By TheDailyNewsHub News Desk | October 5, 2026
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will begin nationwide distribution and collection of newly produced Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) on Thursday, October 9, 2026, as preparations intensify for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, announced the date on Monday in Abuja during a strategic engagement with media executives organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors in collaboration with the electoral commission. He said newly produced PVCs would be made available at Local Government Area (LGA) collection centres across the country for eligible voters.
The announcement confirms an earlier indication by the commission that PVC collection would commence in October. Amupitan had previously disclosed on September 28 that nationwide collection would begin on October 9, while directing INEC officials to address logistical bottlenecks that could prevent eligible voters from obtaining their cards.
The exercise is expected to cover Nigerians who participated in the recent Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), voters who transferred their registration to new locations, and those who applied for replacement of lost or damaged PVCs.
The latest development comes after INEC completed the three phases of the CVR exercise conducted between August 2025 and July 2026. According to figures released by the commission, the exercise produced more than 10.7 million new registrations. The three phases recorded 2,611,266 registrations between August 25 and December 10, 2025; 4,121,835 between January 5 and April 17, 2026; and 3,867,997 between May 11 and July 26, 2026.
Amupitan said the commission had also completed the final Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) cleanup of the voters’ register following the conclusion of the registration exercise.
INEC said the national register now contains more than 103 million registered voters. The commission’s current public platform also lists more than 93 million voters in its statistics, reflecting that voter-registration and PVC figures can refer to different stages of the electoral process and should not be treated as interchangeable.
One of the changes highlighted by INEC is the introduction of printable PVC technology. According to the commission, the technology is designed to shorten the time required to produce replacement cards and provide a quicker route for voters whose cards have been lost or stolen.
The commission’s move comes as the 2027 elections draw closer. INEC’s official election calendar currently lists January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, while the governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
The PVC exercise is therefore an important part of the preparations for the polls, particularly for citizens who registered or changed their voting locations during the recent registration exercise.
INEC has also scheduled the preliminary display of the voters’ register for claims and objections from October 9 to October 15. The commission has urged eligible voters to take part in the verification process and check that their personal information is correctly captured.
The timing means voters will have an opportunity to verify their registration details around the same period that PVC collection begins. This could help identify errors or omissions before the election, although INEC has not indicated that every issue raised during the display period will necessarily result in immediate changes.
The commission has also been emphasising the need to protect voter information and strengthen electoral technology ahead of 2027. At Monday’s media engagement, Amupitan said INEC was working to prevent stolen, lost or compromised cards from being exploited by unauthorised persons.
The chairman also warned political parties and their supporters against disrupting the campaigns, rallies and other legitimate activities of rival parties as political activity increases ahead of the elections.
The PVC announcement comes amid wider scrutiny of INEC’s preparations for the 2027 polls. The commission is already facing disputes involving political parties and court decisions, including issues concerning the recognition of party leadership and candidates. TheDailyNewsHub recently reported on the Action Alliance’s allegations against INEC over its handling of competing court judgments concerning the party. The allegations remain the position of the party and are not established findings against the electoral commission. 2027 Polls: Action Alliance Accuses INEC of Contempt, Selective Obedience to Court Judgments
For voters, however, the immediate issue is practical: those eligible to collect newly produced PVCs will need to follow INEC’s collection arrangements from October 9.
INEC’s official platforms provide voter-registration and polling-unit services, as well as information on the 2027 election calendar. The commission has repeatedly advised Nigerians to rely on its verified communication channels for electoral information, particularly as misinformation about election dates and procedures continues to circulate.
The October 9 PVC exercise is consequently another major milestone in Nigeria’s preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the electoral commission now moving from registration and biometric processing towards making newly produced voter cards available to eligible Nigerians.