INEC has commenced PVC distribution across FCT wards ahead of the February 21 polls, assuring voters of readiness, security coordination, and credible elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs Distribution exercise has officially commenced across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as part of preparations for the February 21 Area Council elections, signaling a critical step toward ensuring broad voter participation and a credible electoral process.
INEC confirmed that a total of 128,396 (PVCs) are now available for collection at the ward level across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
The development was disclosed by the FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Aminu Idris, during a media briefing held in Abuja.
According to the REC, the ongoing PVC collection exercise is being conducted simultaneously in all 62 Registration Areas (wards) within the territory.
He explained that eligible voters can collect their cards daily between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., with the ward-level distribution scheduled to run until next Monday.
After this period, uncollected PVCs will be transferred to INEC Area Council offices for continued collection.
Idris noted that the INEC PVC Distribution covers a wide category of voters.
These include individuals who recently registered under the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, voters who transferred their registration either within or into the FCT, those who applied for replacements due to lost or damaged cards, and persons who failed to collect their PVCs during previous registration exercises.
He stressed that PVCs remain the only legally recognised document for voter accreditation on election day, as provided under Section 47(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended).
The REC made it clear that the commission would not release PVCs to third parties, emphasizing that collection must be done strictly in person by the rightful owners to safeguard the integrity of the process.
Providing insight into voter registration figures, Idris revealed that before INEC suspended the CVR exercise in the FCT on October 12, 2025, a total of 106,855 residents had registered as new voters.
Following the mandatory data cleanup and deduplication process, 102,307 valid new voters were successfully added to the voters’ register.
This update, he said, has increased the total number of registered voters in the FCT to 1,680,315, compared to 1,570,307 voters recorded during the 2023 general elections.
He also disclosed that the FCT recorded 8,476 voter transfers into the territory, while 775 voters transferred out during the registration window.
The REC assured residents that INEC is firmly on course with its election timetable and has made significant progress in preparation for the FCT Area Council elections.
He highlighted that the commission has already published the final register of voters, intensified voter education campaigns, and expanded sensitisation efforts to encourage peaceful participation in the polls.
As part of its security arrangements, INEC has strengthened collaboration with relevant agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
Idris disclosed that training for election security personnel has commenced, aimed at ensuring a safe and orderly environment before, during, and after the polls.
In addition to security planning, INEC has also taken steps to address logistics challenges.
The REC confirmed that the commission has initiated engagements with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to guarantee smooth transportation of personnel and election materials on election day.
He noted that timely logistics are essential to the success of the INEC PVC Distribution process and the overall conduct of the election.
Idris acknowledged the unique challenges associated with conducting elections in the FCT, citing factors such as population density, difficult terrain in some communities, and heightened security considerations due to the territory’s status as the nation’s capital.
He assured voters that these realities have been fully factored into INEC’s operational planning.
The REC urged eligible voters who are yet to collect their Permanent Voter Cards to take advantage of the ongoing exercise, reminding them that failure to present a PVC on election day would result in disenfranchisement.
He reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to transparency, professionalism, and fairness, expressing confidence that the commission’s preparations would culminate in a credible and peaceful February 21 election across the FCT.
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