The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified that newly issued Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for the 2027 general elections must be collected personally by the registered voters and will not be released to representatives acting on their behalf.
The commission said collection of the newly printed PVCs will begin on October 9, 2026, as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed the development during the commission’s North-West zonal interactive meeting and readiness assessment held in Kaduna.
He said the commission was working to close operational gaps ahead of the elections and ensure that eligible voters are able to obtain their voter cards without unnecessary logistical difficulties.
PVC collection to require personal recognition
The commission said voters will be required to appear personally to collect their PVCs, meaning collection through proxies will not be permitted.
The requirement is part of measures aimed at ensuring that voter cards are handed to the individuals to whom they were issued and that the collection process remains properly verified.
INEC has also urged traditional institutions and other community leaders to help mobilise eligible citizens to collect their cards ahead of the elections.
10.7 million new registrations recorded
Amupitan disclosed that the three phases of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise produced 10,772,421 new registrations.
The figures remain subject to verification through the Automated Biometric Identification System before the eligible voters are fully captured in the register.
The INEC chairman also called for the removal of bottlenecks affecting PVC distribution at the local government level, warning that logistical problems should not prevent eligible citizens from participating in the electoral process.
INEC strengthens preparations for 2027
The commission is conducting a six-zone readiness assessment as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
During the Kaduna engagement, Amupitan urged INEC personnel to identify operational challenges in their areas and work with the commission’s headquarters to address them before election day.
He also warned electoral officials against partisan conduct and administrative negligence, stressing that neutrality and professionalism among field personnel would be important to public confidence in the electoral process.
INEC said it is also refining its voter verification and result-transmission systems, including the recently introduced eEC8A result management system.
The commission is further implementing a “Zero-Failure” logistics approach covering early deployment of election materials, transportation, security coordination and training of ad-hoc personnel.
Voters urged to collect PVCs ahead of polls
With PVC collection scheduled to commence on October 9, eligible voters are expected to make arrangements to collect their cards personally through the designated INEC channels.
The commission has continued to emphasise voter participation and proper preparation ahead of the 2027 elections, while urging stakeholders to help ensure that eligible Nigerians are not excluded because of avoidable administrative or logistical challenges.
