By Taibat Ummi Yakubu
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified that Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for Nigerians who registered between January 5 and July 26, 2026, are not yet ready for collection, urging eligible voters to avoid confusion and rely on official announcements for further information.
The clarification was made by INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Lagos State, Prof. Ayobami Salami, during a news conference in Lagos on Tuesday, where he outlined the commission’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Salami explained that PVCs are currently available for people who registered between August 25 and December 10, 2025, as well as those who registered between 2011 and 2022 but have yet to collect their cards, subject to the commission’s records.
He said the collection dates for voters who registered between January 5 and July 26, 2026, would be announced through INEC’s official communication channels when the cards become available.
The REC urged voters whose cards are ready to collect them without delay and keep them safe, stressing that PVCs remain essential for voter accreditation on Election Day.
INEC commenced PVC distribution nationwide on October 9, with all 245 Registration Areas in Lagos State designated as collection centres across its 20 local government areas. The commission has also introduced a Quick Response (QR) code system to help residents locate their designated collection centres.
Beyond PVC distribution, Salami urged registered voters to take advantage of the ongoing display of the Register of Voters to confirm their details and report any discrepancies before the exercise ends on October 15.
The exercise, which also began on October 9, is being conducted across the state’s 245 Registration Areas in line with Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026. INEC said QR codes had also been introduced to help residents identify the centres where the register is available for verification.
Lagos remains a major focus of the commission’s preparations because of its large voting population and complex election logistics. According to Salami, the state has 7,488,633 registered voters, the highest number of any state in Nigeria, alongside 20 local government areas, 245 Registration Areas and 13,325 polling units.
He said the scale of the state’s electorate requires careful coordination of personnel, transportation, security and election materials to ensure that polling units are ready to operate as scheduled.
At the national level, Salami disclosed that nine of the 14 statutory milestones in INEC’s revised timetable for the 2027 elections had been completed as of October 6. He added that the national register of voters stood at approximately 103 million.
The commission is also advancing preparations for critical electoral infrastructure, including the procurement of 57,000 new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices, alongside improvements to information and communication technology facilities, storage facilities and electoral offices.
A mock accreditation and election simulation exercise is scheduled for November to test the commission’s readiness and identify potential operational challenges ahead of the polls.
Salami said nationwide logistical planning covers 176,846 polling units and 8,809 Registration Areas, with more than 100,000 vehicles and approximately 4,000 boats expected to support the movement of personnel and election materials.
Under the planned arrangements, sensitive election materials are expected to arrive at local government areas 72 hours before Election Day, while deployment to Registration Area Centres and Super Registration Area Centres is scheduled to be completed by 4 p.m. on the eve of the election.
In Lagos, the commission is paying particular attention to the state’s heavy traffic, dense population and riverine communities, which could complicate the movement of electoral personnel and materials.
The REC said contingency plans were being developed around transportation, storage, personnel deployment and other operational requirements, with security remaining central to the preparations.
He disclosed that the Nigeria Police Force, as the lead agency for election security, was coordinating with other security and intelligence agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
INEC is also working with anti-corruption and financial intelligence agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and the Federal Ministry of Justice, to strengthen measures against vote buying, illicit campaign financing and other electoral offences.
Salami said engagements with political parties on financial reporting, auditing and campaign finance compliance would be intensified between October 28 and January 1, 2027.
He appealed to political parties, candidates and their supporters to conduct their activities peacefully and abide by electoral laws.
The commission is also prioritising voter education and broader participation, particularly among women, young people and persons with disabilities. Its planned outreach includes community meetings, engagements with tertiary institutions, public debates, mobile cinema and collaboration with the National Orientation Agency.
To improve access to electoral information, INEC is making provision for Braille materials, EC30 posters, magnifying glasses and sign-language interpretation at state collation centres.
Salami, however, raised concerns over the growing spread of misinformation, disinformation, deepfakes and artificial intelligence-generated content, warning that misleading information could erode public confidence in the electoral process.
He urged media organisations to verify information through official INEC channels before publication, particularly reports concerning electoral procedures, commission decisions and election results.
The REC specifically cautioned against presenting unofficial projections or privately collated figures as results formally declared by authorised electoral officials.
He also announced that the Media Accreditation Portal was expected to become operational before the end of October, with further details to be released through official channels.
Meanwhile, recruitment and training of election personnel are progressing. According to Salami, the INECPRES recruitment portal opened on September 18 and is scheduled to close on November 18, while training and readiness assessments will continue to prepare personnel for their duties.
He added that INEC had completed readiness assessments in the South-West and North-West geopolitical zones as part of its broader preparations for the elections.
Salami called on residents to verify their registration information before the voter register display closes, collect their PVCs when available and use INEC’s official communication channels to obtain reliable information.
He also urged civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, youth groups and other stakeholders to support peaceful participation and responsible civic engagement.
Reaffirming the commission’s commitment to transparent, inclusive, peaceful and credible elections, the REC said successful polls would depend on effective planning, professional conduct, impartiality and accountability.
He stressed that credible elections require not only a prepared electoral commission but also informed voters, responsible political actors and a peaceful environment.
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