INEC to Start PVC Collection for 2027 Elections on October 9

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the commencement of the nationwide collection of newly issued Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) starting October 9, 2026, in preparation for the 2027 general election. INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, made this announcement during a North-West Zonal Interactive Meeting with staff in Kaduna.

The PVCs were produced following three phases of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise, which recorded 10,772,421 new registrants. Amupitan emphasized the importance of addressing operational challenges that may hinder eligible voters, particularly in rural areas, from collecting their PVCs.

He stated that the success of elections is determined in the field, not just in headquarters. The commission's readiness tour across the six geopolitical zones aims to identify and resolve challenges affecting field operations.

Mallam Kudu Haruna, the Supervising National Commissioner for Kaduna, noted that the zonal meetings facilitate direct interaction between the commission's leadership and field personnel. INEC also reported that the national voter register is nearing 100 million registered voters.