By Omoyeni Ojeifo
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed October 9, 2026, for the commencement of nationwide collection of newly issued Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2027 general election.
INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan announced this on Monday in Kaduna during the North-West Zonal Interactive Meeting with Staff and Readiness Assessment for the 2027 General Election.
Speaking on the voter registration exercise, Amupitan disclosed that INEC recorded 10,772,421 fresh registrations during the three phases of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise, with the entries awaiting biometric checks before they are fully validated.
He tasked field offices with finding solutions to problems that could delay PVC distribution at the grassroots, particularly at the Local Government Area level, to ensure that eligible voters are not shut out of the electoral process.
On the Commission’s digital infrastructure, Amupitan said ongoing improvements were aimed at making voter verification and electronic transmission of results more efficient, alongside upgrades to the Result Management Systems and the deployment of the new eEC8A.
He further explained that INEC was putting in place a “Zero-Failure” logistics plan, with preparations focused on getting election materials to their destinations ahead of schedule, coordinating movement and security, and properly preparing ad-hoc election personnel.
The Kaduna engagement is part of INEC’s six-zone national tour to assess its preparedness for the 2027 elections, identify challenges confronting field operations and develop practical solutions ahead of the polls.
Amupitan directed officials to close operational gaps, strengthen neutrality and ensure that no avoidable weakness undermines the credibility of the forthcoming elections.
He said the Commission’s presence in Kaduna was not merely an administrative exercise but part of efforts to strengthen the foundations of the country’s electoral process.
“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 added.
The INEC Chairman charged staff to use the engagement to present practical challenges affecting election administration in their respective areas and work with the headquarters to develop solutions before election day.
According to him, the Commission was building on lessons from recent elections while preparing for the larger national assignment in 2027.
The Chairman cautioned electoral officials against partisan conduct and administrative negligence, stressing that the neutrality and professionalism of field personnel would be critical to public confidence in the electoral process.
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