The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will commence the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards to eligible Nigerians on Thursday, October 8, 2026, as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, announced the development during a strategic engagement with journalists in Abuja.
The exercise will cover Nigerians who recently registered to vote, transferred their voting locations or applied for replacement of damaged Permanent Voter Cards.
Distribution begins nationwide
According to INEC, the distribution is part of efforts to ensure that eligible voters have access to their voting credentials ahead of the 2027 elections.
The commission has also been strengthening its technology systems to prevent stolen, lost or compromised voter cards from being exploited by unauthorized persons.
The measures are aimed at protecting the integrity of voter identification and reducing the possibility of electoral malpractice linked to voter cards.
INEC warns political parties
Amupitan also urged political parties and their supporters to respect the rights of rival parties to conduct their campaigns, rallies and other legitimate political activities.
He warned against actions capable of disrupting political activities as the country moves closer to the 2027 general elections.
The INEC chairman stressed the importance of maintaining a peaceful environment throughout the electoral process.
Over 10.7 million new registrations
The PVC distribution follows the conclusion of the three-phase Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which recorded 10,772,421 new registrations.
INEC said the registrations are subject to biometric verification and other processes designed to ensure the integrity of the national voters’ register.
The commission has also said the national register now contains more than 103 million registered voters following the latest registration exercise.
With PVC collection now approaching, INEC is urging eligible Nigerians to complete the process and ensure their voter information is correctly captured ahead of the 2027 polls.
