The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun displaying the preliminary register of voters and distributing Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in states as part of its preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The exercise, scheduled to run for seven days from October 9 to 15, 2026, will enable registered voters to confirm their details, submit claims and objections, and collect PVCs issued during the first phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) conducted between August and December 2025.
In Plateau and Sokoto states, INEC said the preliminary register would be displayed at Registration Area centres, while PVC collection would continue at the commission’s local government offices after the initial exercise ends.
Plateau State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Sam Egwu, announced the development in a statement made available to journalists in Jos on Thursday.
According to the commission, the exercise complies with Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which requires INEC to display the voter register at least 90 days before a general election.
He said, “The Independent National Electoral Commission, Plateau State, wishes to inform the good people of Plateau State that the commission will commence display of the Preliminary Register of Voters, attend to the hearing of claims and objections as well as collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) simultaneously in all the 207 Registration Areas in the state, from the 9th to 15th of October 2026 (7 days and weekends inclusive). Time is 9 am -3 pm daily.”
Egwu urged registered voters to use the opportunity to verify their registration information, including their names, photographs, dates of birth, polling units and other relevant details, and submit corrections or objections where necessary.
He said, “All registered voters are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to carefully check information they provided, such as their names, photographs, date of birth, polling units and other relevant registration details to make necessary claims and objections within this stipulated period as an accurate voter register is important for free and credible elections,” the REC said.
The Plateau REC added that PVCs belonging to voters registered during the first phase of the CVR, which ran from August 18 to December 10, 2025, would be available for collection throughout the exercise.
Similarly, Sokoto State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Umar Garba, announced the commencement of the exercise while briefing journalists on INEC’s preparations for the 2027 polls at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Press Centre.
Garba said the initiative was designed to give eligible voters the opportunity to confirm their registration details and obtain their voter cards.
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“The Independent National Electoral Commission will commence the display of the preliminary register of voters for claims and objections, as well as the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards from the 9th to the 15th of October 2026,” Garba said.
He clarified that PVCs relating to lost or damaged cards, transfers, updates and registrations carried out during the second and third phases of the CVR were not yet available for collection.
According to him, INEC would notify the public when the affected cards were ready.
Garba further explained that PVC distribution would continue at the commission’s offices across Sokoto’s 23 local government areas after the Registration Area exercise concludes on October 15.
“This will enable eligible voters who could not collect their cards at the Registration Area level to do so,” he said.
Addressing security concerns, the REC said INEC had continued to work with security agencies throughout the voter registration process to ensure a safe exercise.
“Throughout the registration of voters held recently, the commission took the advice of security agencies very seriously. This contributed to a safe process without any casualties,” he said.
He assured eligible voters that the commission would make efforts to ensure PVCs reached voters across Sokoto State.
On the participation of internally displaced persons (IDPs), Garba disclosed that INEC was consulting security agencies to establish the number of displaced persons in the state and determine arrangements for their participation in the 2027 elections.
“The commission is always talking with security agencies to ascertain the number of IDPs in the state. We are working to ensure that they vote once they are in official and recognised camps,” he said.
The REC added that INEC would announce the total number of registered voters in Sokoto State at the appropriate time.