The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recorded varying levels of participation across Nigeria as registered voters began collecting their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The exercise, which started on Friday, October 9, also includes the public display of the National Register of Voters to enable citizens to verify their details and submit claims or objections where necessary.
Although some collection centres reported a peaceful commencement, turnout was generally low in several states, including the Federal Capital Territory, Benue, Oyo, Ondo and Ebonyi. INEC officials attributed the limited attendance partly to the exercise being on its first day, expressing optimism that more voters would participate in subsequent days.
However, the process encountered difficulties in parts of Abia State, where residents in Umuahia complained that INEC personnel were absent from some designated centres. Some voters said they had visited collection points more than once without obtaining their cards, raising concerns about the time and transportation costs involved.
In Bayelsa State, some applicants experienced difficulties locating their polling units or retrieving their cards, while others reported that their names were missing from displayed registers. Some applicants seeking replacement cards were also asked to return at a later date because their cases were not covered by the current distribution phase.
The situation was different in parts of Ogun and Ekiti states, where prospective voters described the collection process as smooth. In Kwara, INEC distributed 32,518 PVCs relating to transfers and reported cases involving voters whose cards had been damaged or required replacement.
INEC officials in several states urged eligible voters to take advantage of the collection period rather than wait until the final days. The commission also encouraged residents to inspect the displayed register and report any discrepancies through the appropriate channels.
The collection exercise at ward and Registration Area centres is scheduled to run from October 9 to October 15, 2026, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. From October 16, collection is to continue at INEC offices in local government areas.
The commission said the exercise covers eligible applicants who registered, transferred their voting locations, requested replacement cards or updated their voter information. Uncollected PVCs from earlier registration exercises are also available, subject to the commission’s arrangements.
In Enugu State, INEC disclosed that 2,213,768 registered voters were eligible to participate in the process. Meanwhile, the commission’s officials in Anambra called for wider public awareness to ensure that eligible residents were informed about the collection exercise.
With the 2027 elections approaching, the ongoing distribution remains an important step in helping eligible citizens prepare to vote. INEC has encouraged voters to verify their registration details, collect their cards within the designated period and resolve any issues with their records before election day.
