The Independent National Electoral Commission has expressed concern over 41,656 unclaimed Permanent Voter Cards across Yobe.

Ibrahim Abdullahi, INEC’s resident electoral commissioner in Yobe, disclosed this at a news conference in Damaturu on Tuesday.

He said that of the 42,756 PVCs brought forward from previous electoral processes in the state, only 1,100 had been collected since the resumption of the current exercise on August 18, 2025.

Mr Abdullahi, therefore, appealed to the owners of the PVCs to collect them at INEC offices across the 17 local government areas of the state.

He announced the approval for Continuous Voter Registration to be conducted at residential areas or wards across the state for 50 days.

He said the approval became pertinent after a review of phase one of the CVR revealed low turnout of registrants at some centres due to numerous challenges.

Mr Abdullahi listed the challenges as seasonal farming activities, insecurity, difficult terrain, and disproportionate turnout among registrants.

“The commission has approved the devolution of the registration exercise to RA (ward) level by taking the IVEDS among the RAs for the period of 50 days with effect from 2nd February, 2026, to 10th April, 2026.

“The last week of the 50 days will be done at the local government offices of the Commission,” he said.

He urged stakeholders to educate citizens on the importance of registering and voting in the 2027 general elections, encouraging them to take ownership of the electoral process.

Mr Abdullahi, however, cautioned members of the public against the activities of fraudsters, saying INEC will not charge registration fees.

INEC resumed voter registration exercises ahead of the 2027 general election on August 18, 2025.

The exercise was structured in three phases. The first phase ended on December 21, 2025, with the display of the preliminary voters’ register for claims and objections.

The second phase, which is ongoing, resumed on January 5. 

(NAN)