The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that nationwide collection of newly issued Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will begin on October 9, 2026, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed the date during the commission’s North-West Zonal Interactive Meeting and readiness assessment held in Kaduna.
The new PVCs are from three phases of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise, which recorded 10,772,421 new registrations. The registrations are still undergoing verification through the Automated Biometric Identification System.
Amupitan directed electoral officials to identify and resolve operational challenges that could affect the distribution and collection of PVCs, particularly at the grassroots level.
He also stressed the importance of neutrality and professionalism among electoral personnel, noting that their conduct at Local Government Areas, Registration Area Centres and polling units would have an impact on public confidence in the electoral process.
The commission’s ongoing readiness assessment is being conducted across its six geopolitical zones to identify operational difficulties and address them ahead of the 2027 elections.
INEC also appealed to traditional rulers to assist in encouraging eligible citizens to collect their PVCs once the nationwide exercise begins.
The 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
