INEC to Begin PVC Distribution Thursday Ahead of 2027 Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will begin distributing Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to eligible registered voters on Thursday as preparations intensify for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, announced the plan on Monday during a strategic engagement meeting with journalists in Abuja. The exercise will give newly registered voters access to their cards ahead of the elections.

The distribution will also cover voters who transferred their polling locations and those who applied for replacement of damaged PVCs. INEC said the exercise is part of its preparations to ensure eligible Nigerians can participate in the electoral process.

The commission has been working through multiple phases of Continuous Voter Registration ahead of the 2027 polls. INEC previously said more than 10.7 million people registered during the three phases, although the figures remained subject to biometric verification.

Amupitan also said INEC was strengthening the use of technology to prevent stolen, lost or compromised voter cards from being exploited by unauthorised persons. The move is aimed at protecting the integrity of the voter registration and election process.

The PVC distribution comes as INEC’s preparations for the 2027 elections gather pace. The commission has urged registered voters to check their PVC status and identify their designated collection centres through its official voter portal.

With millions of newly registered voters expected to collect their cards, the effectiveness of the distribution exercise will depend on how smoothly collection centres operate and whether eligible voters can access their cards without unnecessary delays. INEC’s official election timetable sets the presidential and National Assembly elections for 2027, with the electoral process already moving into the campaign period.