INEC register hits 103m as PVC collection begins Friday

Nigeria’s national register of voters has risen to over 103 million following the completion of the final Automated Biometric Identification System, ABIS, cleanup.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, also says nationwide collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards, PVCs, will commence on Friday, October 9, 2026.

Advertisements

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at a strategic workshop for editors organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors in collaboration with the Commission.

According to the INEC Chairman, the three phases of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise conducted between August 2025 and July 2026 produced 10,772,421 new registrants, subject to biometric verification.

Advertisements

He said the final cleanup had now been completed, bringing the national register to more than 103 million voters.

Professor Amupitan said the Commission had completed the processing and distribution of Phase One PVCs to all local government centres ahead of Friday’s nationwide collection.

He urged the media to use their platforms to educate citizens on collection procedures and encourage registered voters to collect their cards promptly.

The INEC Chairman also disclosed that the Commission had introduced printable PVC technology in line with the Electoral Act 2026, saying the innovation was designed to eliminate prolonged waiting for physical voter cards.

With the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, INEC says it has so far completed eight of the 14 statutory activities on its revised timetable.

The Commission has also acquired 57,000 additional BVAS devices and commenced early procurement and distribution of non-sensitive election materials to address delays in the delivery of polling materials.

Professor Amupitan further warned against vote-buying and disinformation ahead of the elections, saying INEC would work with relevant financial and law-enforcement agencies to monitor election-related financial activities.

He also cautioned editors against publishing unverified results, manipulated audio-visual content and deepfakes, urging the media to verify information through official channels before publication.

The workshop focused on strengthening collaboration between INEC, editors, civil society organisations and other stakeholders ahead of the 2027 general elections, with emphasis on fact-checking, journalist safety and public trust in the electoral process.

Advertisements

Advertisements