The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says permanent voter cards (PVCs) for persons who registered between January 5 and July 26, 2026, are not yet available for collection.

The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Lagos State, Ayobami Salami, disclosed this at a news conference on Tuesday in Lagos on preparations for the 2027 General Elections.

Mr Salami said the commission would announce the collection dates for the affected registrants through its official communication channels.

He urged eligible voters to collect their available PVCs promptly and safeguard them, noting that the cards remained essential for accreditation on Election Day.

“For clarity, PVCs are currently available for persons who registered between 25th August and 10th December, 2025, as well as those who registered between 2011 and 2022 but have yet to collect their cards, subject to the commission’s records.

“However, PVCs for persons who registered between 5th January and 26th July, 2026, are not yet available. The collection of their cards will be announced through official channels in due course,” he said.

The REC said the distribution of PVCs commenced nationwide on October 9, with all 245 registration areas (RAs) in Lagos State serving as collection centres across the state’s 20 local government areas (LGAs).

He said INEC Lagos introduced a quick response (QR) code initiative to help voters identify designated PVC collection centres.

Mr Salami also urged registered voters to verify their details during the ongoing display of the Register of Voters, which commenced on October 9 and would end on October 15.

He said the exercise was being conducted across the state’s 245 registration areas in accordance with Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026.

He stated, “The exercise enables registered voters to verify their particulars and identify discrepancies for necessary action.

“In Lagos State, the register is being displayed across the 245 registration areas/wards. To facilitate access, INEC Lagos has introduced a QR code initiative, enabling citizens to identify their designated display centres.”

The REC said Lagos State remained central to Nigeria’s electoral landscape, with 7,488,633 registered voters, which he described as the highest number in the country.

He said the state had 20 LGAs, 245 registration areas and 13,325 polling units, requiring extensive planning and coordination for the elections.

Mr Salami said preparations were progressing nationwide, with nine of the 14 statutory milestones in the revised timetable and schedule of activities completed as of October 6.

He added that the national register of voters stood at approximately 103 million, adding that the commission was advancing procurement and quality assurance for critical electoral infrastructure.

According to him, the infrastructure includes 57,000 new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices, information and communication technology facilities, storage facilities and improvements to electoral offices.

Mr Salami said a mock accreditation and election simulation exercise was scheduled for November to further assess the commission’s readiness.

He said nationwide logistical preparations covered 176,846 polling units and 8,809 registration areas, supported by more than 100,000 vehicles and approximately 4,000 boats.

Mr Salami added that sensitive materials were expected to reach LGAs 72 hours before Election Day, while deployment to Registration Area Centres and Super Registration Area Centres would be completed by 4:00 p.m. on the eve of the election.

The REC said INEC’s priorities in Lagos State included strengthening logistics, security coordination, personnel deployment, voter education and contingency arrangements to address the state’s unique operational challenges.

He said the preparations took account of population density, traffic conditions and riverine communities to ensure polling units commenced activities as scheduled.

“In Lagos State, our preparations take account of population density, traffic conditions, riverine communities and other logistical challenges.

“Attention is being given to transportation, storage, electoral facilities, personnel deployment and contingency arrangements to ensure that Polling Units are ready to commence activities as scheduled.

“Security remains integral to these arrangements,” he said.

Mr Salami said the Nigeria Police, as the lead agency, was coordinating with other security and intelligence agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

He added that the commission was strengthening election risk-management measures and collaborating with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and Federal Ministry of Justice.

According to him, the collaboration is aimed at addressing vote buying, illicit campaign financing and other electoral offences.

He said engagements with political parties on financial reporting, auditing and campaign finance compliance would be intensified between October 28 and January 1, 2027.

“I hereby appeal to political parties, candidates, and their supporters to conduct their activities peacefully and in accordance with the law,” he said.

The REC said voter education and inclusive participation remained key priorities, particularly among women, young people and persons with disabilities.

He said the commission was expanding grassroots engagement through community meetings, tertiary institution engagements, public debates, mobile cinema and collaboration with the National Orientation Agency.

He added that accessibility measures included Braille materials, EC30 posters, magnifying glasses and sign-language interpretation at state collation centres.

“In Lagos State, voter education will continue across communities, markets, educational institutions, religious organisations and other relevant platforms,” he said.

Mr Salami expressed concern about the spread of misinformation, disinformation, deepfakes and artificial intelligence-generated content, warning that they could undermine public confidence in elections.

He urged media organisations to verify electoral information through official INEC channels before publication, particularly information concerning electoral procedures, commission decisions and election results.

“Unofficial projections and privately collated figures must not be presented as results formally declared by authorised electoral officials,” he said.

The REC said the Media Accreditation Portal was expected to become operational before the end of October, with further guidelines to be communicated through official channels.

He added that recruitment, training and deployment of electoral personnel were also progressing, with the INECPRES recruitment portal opened on September 18 and scheduled to close on November 18.

Mr Salami said training and readiness assessments would continue to ensure that electoral personnel were adequately prepared for their responsibilities.

He said the commission had also completed readiness assessments in the South-West and North-West geopolitical zones.

The REC urged residents to take interest in the electoral process by verifying their registration details, collecting their PVCs when available and relying on official INEC information.

He also called on political parties, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, youth groups and other stakeholders to promote peaceful participation and responsible civic conduct.

“As we approach the elections, I call on Lagos residents to take an active interest in the process; verify their registration details before the display exercise closes, collect their PVCs when available, and rely on official INEC information.

“I particularly encourage citizens to use the QR codes provided by INEC Lagos Office to identify designated locations for the display of the Register of Voters and PVC collection.

“Political parties, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, youth groups and other stakeholders are equally encouraged to promote peaceful participation and responsible civic conduct,” he said.

Mr Salami reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to delivering transparent, inclusive, peaceful and credible elections through proper planning, coordination, professionalism, impartiality and accountability.

He urged the media to sustain accurate reporting and public enlightenment.

The official said credible elections required a prepared commission, informed voters, responsible stakeholders and a peaceful environment. 

(NAN)