The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced October 9, 2026, as the commencement date for nationwide collection of newly issued Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Monday during the North-West Zonal Interactive Meeting with staff and a readiness assessment for the 2027 elections in Kaduna.
Amupitan said the three phases of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise produced 10,772,421 new registrations, with the records undergoing verification through the Automated Biometric Identification System.
He, thus, directed officials to address bottlenecks affecting PVC distribution at the Local Government Area level, stressing the need to ensure that eligible voters are not prevented from participating in the electoral process because of administrative or logistical challenges.
The INEC chairman also urged field officials to maintain neutrality and professionalism, warning against partisan conduct and administrative negligence as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify.
The commission said it was refining its technological systems for voter verification, result transmission and election result management. It is also implementing a “Zero-Failure” approach to logistics, covering the early deployment and movement of election materials, security coordination and training of ad hoc personnel.
INEC’s published timetable lists the Presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections in participating states are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
Registered voters can also use INEC’s voter verification portal to check their registration status and access information about their PVC collection.
By Musekir Faisat Omolara
