The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it will start collecting newly issued Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) nationwide on October 9, 2026. This move is in preparation for the 2027 general election. INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, made this announcement during the commission's North-West Zonal Interactive Meeting with staff in Kaduna.
According to Amupitan, the new PVCs were produced following three phases of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise, which recorded 10,772,421 new registrants. These registrations are subject to verification through the Automated Biometric Identification System. The INEC chairman emphasized the importance of addressing operational challenges that could make it difficult for eligible voters to collect their PVCs, especially in rural areas.
Amupitan stressed that the true success of any election is not decided solely in the meeting rooms of INEC's headquarters in Abuja, but in the field. He directed officials to remain neutral and professional in the discharge of their duties, as their conduct at the Local Government Areas, Registration Area Centres, and polling units would play an important role in maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.
The INEC chairman's visit to the Emir of Zazzau and Chairman of the Kaduna State Council of Traditional Rulers was intended to seek the support of traditional institutions for voter mobilisation. During the visit, Amupitan informed the Emir that the newly issued PVCs would be ready for collection from October 9 and appealed to traditional rulers to encourage eligible citizens in their communities to collect their PVCs.
INEC's Supervising National Commissioner for Kaduna, Mallam Kudu Haruna, said the zonal meetings were created to give the commission's leadership an opportunity to interact directly with field personnel as preparations for the 2027 election continue. Haruna added that Amupitan's visit aimed to identify challenges affecting INEC's field operations and address them before the 2027 elections.
The national voter register is nearing 100 million registered voters, according to INEC. The commission's official portal allows registered voters to check the status of their PVCs and find their designated collection centres. This move is aimed at ensuring that eligible voters can easily access their PVCs and participate in the electoral process.
INEC has called on electoral officials to remain neutral and professional in the discharge of their duties. The commission's readiness tour across the six geopolitical zones is aimed at identifying challenges affecting its field operations and addressing them before the 2027 elections.
Key points
- INEC to start PVC collection on October 9, 2026
- 10,772,421 new registrants recorded during Continuous Voter Registration exercise
- National voter register nearing 100 million registered voters
