INEC Says PVCs for 2026 Registrants Are Not Ready for Collection

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for individuals who registered between January 5 and July 26, 2026, are not available for collection yet. This information was shared by Professor Ayobami Salami, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos State, during a news conference on Tuesday.

Salami stated that INEC will inform the public about the collection dates for these PVCs through its official channels. He urged eligible voters to collect their available PVCs as soon as possible and to keep them safe, as these cards are crucial for voting on Election Day.

Currently, PVCs are available for those who registered between August 25 and December 10, 2025, as well as for individuals who registered between 2011 and 2022 but have not yet picked up their cards. However, those who registered from January 5 to July 26, 2026, will have to wait for further announcements.

The distribution of PVCs started nationwide on October 9, with all 245 Registration Areas in Lagos serving as collection points across the 20 Local Government Areas. INEC has also introduced a Quick Response code system to help voters find their designated collection centres.

Salami encouraged registered voters to check their details during the ongoing display of the Register of Voters, which runs from October 9 to October 15. He noted that Lagos has the highest number of registered voters in Nigeria, with over 7.4 million people.

Additionally, Salami mentioned that the national voter register includes around 103 million people. INEC is also working on improving electoral infrastructure, including new voting devices and better facilities to support the upcoming elections.