The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that registered voters must personally collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), ruling out collection by proxy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The commission said nationwide collection of newly printed PVCs will begin on October 9, 2026, following the completion of the latest Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed the date during a North-West zonal interactive meeting and readiness assessment in Kaduna.
INEC’s position means voters will be required to appear in person at designated collection centres to obtain their cards. The commission’s existing PVC collection guidelines also state that registered voters must be physically present and that cards cannot be collected on behalf of another person.
The development is important as INEC prepares for the 2027 elections and works to ensure that eligible voters are not disenfranchised because of difficulties accessing their voting credentials. Amupitan said the recent registration exercise produced more than 10.7 million new registrations, increasing the logistical demands associated with PVC distribution.
The commission has also directed its officials to address distribution bottlenecks at the Local Government Area level. According to Amupitan, effective field operations will be essential to ensuring that the electoral process works efficiently ahead of the national polls.
INEC is simultaneously reviewing its technological and operational systems, including voter verification and result-transmission processes, as part of preparations for the 2027 elections.
Registered voters can check their PVC status and identify their designated collection centres through INEC’s voter registration portal. The commission has urged citizens to follow official announcements regarding collection dates and procedures.
PVC collection remains an important stage in Nigeria’s electoral process. With the 2027 general elections approaching, INEC’s emphasis on personal collection is intended to ensure that voting cards reach the registered individuals to whom they belong and to strengthen the integrity of the voter accreditation process.
