The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced October 9, 2026, as the date Nigerians can begin collecting newly issued Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
The announcement comes as the electoral body intensifies preparations for the 2027 general elections and works to address operational challenges ahead of the polls.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), disclosed the date on Monday, September 28, 2026, during the commission’s North-West Zonal Interactive Meeting with staff in Kaduna.
The meeting was part of a six-zone nationwide tour aimed at assessing the commission’s level of preparedness for the upcoming elections.
Amupitan speaks on preparations for 2027
While addressing officials in Kaduna, Amupitan stressed the importance of INEC’s field operations in delivering credible elections.
He urged personnel to openly identify difficulties affecting their work so that the commission’s headquarters could intervene before election day.
“The true success of any election is not decided solely in the meeting rooms of our headquarters in Abuja. It is decided in the field,” he said.
The INEC chairman said practical challenges encountered by staff must be addressed early rather than allowing them to affect the conduct of the elections.
Over 10.7 million new voter registrations recorded
Amupitan disclosed that the three phases of Continuous Voter Registration conducted by the commission have generated 10,772,421 new registrations.
He explained that the new registrations are still awaiting verification through the Automated Biometric Identification System.
The chairman also called on officials at state and local government levels to remove obstacles preventing eligible voters from receiving their PVCs.
According to him, failure to ensure that eligible voters can collect their cards could effectively deny them the opportunity to participate in the election.
INEC upgrades voter verification and result systems
The commission is also working on upgrades to its voter verification and results transmission infrastructure.
Among the systems mentioned was the recently introduced eEC8A, which forms part of INEC’s Result Management Systems framework.
Amupitan further disclosed that the commission has adopted what it described as a “Zero-Failure” logistics strategy.
The plan covers the early distribution of election materials, coordination of movement, security arrangements and the training of ad-hoc personnel.
INEC warns field officials against partisanship
The INEC chairman also cautioned personnel against engaging in partisan activities or displaying negligence while carrying out their duties.
He emphasised that voters’ confidence in elections is closely connected to the neutrality and professionalism of officials who interact directly with them at polling units and Registration Area Centres.
The commission is expected to continue its nationwide engagement with staff as it evaluates its readiness ahead of the 2027 elections.
INEC leadership visits Kaduna traditional institution
As part of the Kaduna leg of the zonal tour, Amupitan paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Zazzau and Chairman of the Kaduna State Council of Traditional Rulers.
The visit was disclosed by the Supervising National Commissioner for Kaduna, Mallam Kudu Haruna.
According to Haruna, Amupitan used the meeting to brief the traditional ruler on INEC’s preparations and seek the support of traditional institutions in encouraging eligible Nigerians to collect their PVCs and participate in the election.
He added that the zonal interactive meetings were intended to give the commission’s leadership an opportunity to engage directly with staff across different levels despite the limited time remaining before the 2027 polls.
See the update below:
BREAKING: INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan has announced that PVC collection begins October 9 nationwide, saying the recent voter registration produced over 10.7 million new voter registrations. pic.twitter.com/pzAlaDx12N
— Nigerian Affairs Journal (@NigAffairs) September 28, 2026
