The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it will commence nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) on October 9, 2026. This move is in preparation for the 2027 general elections. INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, revealed the date, stating that the commission had concluded the three-phase Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. The final Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) cleanup of the voters’ register has also been completed.
The national register now contains more than 103 million voters. For Nigerians who registered during the CVR exercise, INEC provides an online platform where voters can check whether their names are on the register and verify their voter information. This online platform is part of INEC’s efforts to ensure that voters can easily access their registration information.
To check their voter status online, Nigerians can visit INEC’s official Voter Verification Service. They can select the option to check their status using their name and date of birth or use their Voter Identification Number (VIN). For the name-and-date-of-birth option, voters will need to provide their state of registration, Local Government Area of registration, last name, first name, and date of birth.
If using their VIN, voters will need to enter their full VIN or the last 10 digits of their VIN, alongside their state, LGA, and surname. They will also need to complete the security verification and submit the form. The system will display their voter registration information if their details are found on the register.
Voters are advised to carefully check their details and ensure that their registration information is accurate. INEC has provided services through its voter portal for updating voter information, transferring registration, replacing lost or damaged PVCs, and checking PVC collection locations. The commission has scheduled the display of the Preliminary Register of Voters for October 9 to 15.
During this period, eligible voters can inspect the register and raise claims or objections where necessary. Newly produced PVCs will be distributed to Local Government Area collection centres nationwide for eligible voters to collect from October 9. Voters who are unsure about their collection location can use INEC’s official portal or contact the commission’s Citizens Contact Centre for clarification.
INEC has taken several steps to ensure that voters can easily access their PVCs and verify their registration information. With the PVC collection set to commence on October 9, voters are encouraged to check their voter status and collect their PVCs from their designated collection centres.
Key points
- INEC to commence PVC collection on October 9, 2026
- Voters can check their status online using INEC’s Voter Verification Service
- PVCs will be distributed to Local Government Area collection centres nationwide
