2027 general election guide

They have already decided. So why vote?

Fair question. It deserves a real answer, not a slogan. Here are the answers to the eight common reasons why people do not vote.

Read the answers See my ballot

Collage of a young Nigerian woman’s face set inside an orange map of Nigeria

5 officeson 2 Saturdays

First vote

Sat 16 January 2027

President, Senate, House of Representatives

days away

Second vote

Sat 6 February 2027

Governor, State House of Assembly

101

days away

whyvote is a PoliZ programme. It does not support, oppose, endorse or rank any party or candidate. The only ask is that you vote. We never ask who for.

You have heard these before

Tap a card for the short answer. Every one has a full reply you can send to the person who said it.

All eight answers

“They will just buy votes anyway”“The courts will change the result anyway”“One vote does not count”“They are all the same”

The numbers tell a story.

1 / 3

6.2m

PVCs have not been collected

Over 6 million registered voters have not collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), meaning they could not vote even if they wanted to.

Take the pledge

73 in 100 did not vote in 2023

27 voted

7 never collected their PVC

66 had a PVC and stayed home

103.4m

Registered voters for 2027

24.9m

Votes cast in 2023

26.7%

Turnout in 2023, the lowest since 1999

6.2m

PVCs not collected

39.7%

Of the 2023 register aged 18 to 34

Source: INEC. The 2027 register figure is from INEC’s October 2026 update, before the final register is published.

Five lines on your ballot. Not one.

Most people vote the top line with attention and the rest blindly. The lines below the president are the ones that decide your road, your clinic and your school.

01PresidentRuns the federal executive and proposes the federal budget. The loudest race, and only one line out of five.16 Jan 02SenatorIf it is a federal road, a federal agency, or a national law, this office approved the money for it.16 Jan 03House of RepresentativesRepresents the smallest federal unit there is. If federal money never reaches your constituency, start here.16 Jan 04GovernorIf the road is state road, the hospital is a general hospital, or the teachers have not been paid, this is the office.6 Feb 05State House of AssemblyThe most powerful office almost nobody can name. If the state budget is nonsense and nobody objected, this is who did not object.6 Feb

JAN 2027

Saturday

President, Senate, House of Reps

FEB 2027

Saturday

Governor, State House of Assembly

See my ballot

How ready are you?

of 6

Next up

Check that you are registered

Six things to sort out before January. Tick them off as you go. Your progress stays on this device.

Start the checklist Take the pledge

Put your thumb on it.

Pledge to vote on both Saturdays. You get your own ballot summary straight away, a reminder to collect your PVC, and a nudge in the final week. Nothing else.

Take the pledge