The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially commenced the nationwide display of the Preliminary Register of Voters alongside the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
​The dual exercise, which serves as a major milestone in preparations for the 2027 General Elections, opened on Friday, October 9, 2026, and is structured to allow citizens to verify their details, lodge complaints, and pick up their voter cards.
​The preliminary voter register display will run from October 9 to October 15, 2026, operates daily between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM, and is accessible at designated Registration Area (Ward) Collection Centres and INEC Local Government Area (LGA) offices nationwide.
​During this period, citizens who registered in recent Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) phases, transferred their voting locations, or requested card corrections can inspect the public register.
The display provides a critical 7-day window for the public to submit claims regarding omissions or misspellings and raise objections against the inclusion of ineligible names, such as deceased persons or non-citizens.
​Concurrently, the distribution of newly printed PVCs has begun at INEC LGA offices, enabling newly registered voters and those who requested transfers or card replacements to collect their voter cards ahead of the 2027 polls.
​Speaking at a strategic stakeholder engagement in Abuja, INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan emphasized that the voter register forms the bedrock of electoral integrity.
​”A clean and verified voter register is essential to conducting free, fair, and credible elections,” Prof. Amupitan stated. “We urge all eligible Nigerians to take advantage of this exercise to inspect the preliminary register, verify their details, and collect their PVCs. Your voter card remains your primary instrument of civic participation.”
​Prof. Amupitan also noted that the commission is integrating new printable PVC security technologies and enhanced digital verification tools to ensure lost, damaged, or stolen cards cannot be manipulated to compromise the electoral process.
​Addressing media briefings in state capitals, Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) echoed the chairman’s call, highlighting local logistics set up to manage crowd control and safeguard electoral materials at the ward levels.
​INEC advised political parties, civil society organisations, and community leaders to mobilize voters in their respective communities to ensure a smooth exercise before the display window closes.
