The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified that the ongoing Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection exercise currently underway applies only to residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in preparation for the Area Council elections scheduled for February 21, 2026.
The clarification was issued on Thursday, January 22, 2026, via the commission’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
INEC explained that the distribution drive, which commenced on January 22, 2026, is targeted exclusively at eligible voters within the FCT and does not extend to other states at this stage.
The electoral body urged citizens in states outside the FCT to disregard unverified information circulating about PVC collection in their areas.
According to INEC, Permanent Voter Cards will be available for collection at voters’ respective Registration Areas (wards) from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily between January 22 and January 26, 2026. Voters who are unable to collect their PVCs within this period can visit any INEC Area Council office across the FCT afterwards to claim their cards.
The clarification follows INEC’s earlier announcement of the PVC distribution ahead of the February Area Council election in the capital territory.
The commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner for the FCT, Malam Aminu Kasimu Idris, said in a media briefing that 128,396 PVCs were ready for collection at the ward level across the six Area Councils of the territory.
He emphasised that the cards include those for newly registered voters, those who transferred registrations, replacements for lost or defaced PVCs and cards not yet collected from previous exercises.
INEC reiterated that PVCs will only be issued to eligible voters at designated centres and that the card remains the only valid document for voter accreditation in line with the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended).
The commission stressed that collection by proxy is not permitted and that voters must collect their own cards in person.
For states outside the FCT, INEC said that schedules for PVC collection have not yet been finalised and assured that once dates are determined they will be officially announced on all its platforms.
The commission appealed for patience and urged eligible voters in other states to wait for the official communication before making plans or acting on unverified claims.
This clarification aims to prevent confusion and ensure that voters are properly informed about PVC distribution timelines ahead of electoral events nationwide.
