The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to begin the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for the 2026 Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections this week, just weeks before Nigerians go to the polls on February 21.
Officials confirmed the development to our correspondent on Monday in Abuja, signaling the start of a crucial phase in the electoral process.
Distribution Timeline and Coverage
According to INEC sources, the PVC distribution will run over several days, likely from Thursday through Sunday.
The exercise targets newly registered voters, as well as individuals who applied for transfers or updates to their voter information during the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
“This week marks the start of PVC collection, and the process will extend across designated centres to ensure accessibility for all eligible voters,” one official said.
Number of Eligible Voters and Pending PVCs
INEC has confirmed that 1,680,315 registered voters are cleared to participate in the FCT Area Council elections.
Despite this, records indicate that approximately 93,868 PVCs remain uncollected at the commission’s FCT office, highlighting the urgency for eligible voters to collect their cards ahead of the polls.
The commission also assured that any backlog of uncollected PVCs from prior registration exercises will be made available at designated centres during the ongoing distribution period.
Background on Voter Registration Updates
The updated voters’ register comes after the suspension of the CVR exercise in October 2025, which allowed for biometric de-duplication, public display for claims and objections, and compilation of a supplementary voters’ list.
These measures ensure accuracy and transparency, helping to reduce potential disputes during the elections.
Campaigns and Candidate List
Political campaigns for the FCT Area Council elections began on September 24, 2025, and are set to conclude at midnight on February 19, 2026.
INEC has released the final list of candidates, with 17 political parties successfully submitting nomination forms for the contests.
Preparatory Activities by INEC
In addition to PVC distribution, the commission is actively preparing for the elections through several initiatives.
These include campaign monitoring, receipt and verification of non-sensitive election materials, activation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, voter education and sensitisation, stakeholder engagement, and coordination with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
Positions Up for Grabs
A total of 68 positions will be contested across the six area councils of the FCT—Abuja Municipal, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali, and Abaji.
These include six chairmanship seats and 62 councillorship seats, making the upcoming polls a critical moment for local governance in the capital territory.
What’s Next
Eligible voters are urged to collect their PVCs promptly to ensure their participation in the February 21 elections.
With campaigns winding down and preparations intensifying, the coming days will be crucial as INEC finalises logistics and ensures a smooth electoral process in the FCT.
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