Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has started the display of the preliminary register of voters and distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) across states as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The seven-day exercise, which begins on Friday and runs through October 15, will allow registered voters to verify their details, raise claims and objections, and collect PVCs from the first phase of the Continuous Voter Registration conducted between August and December 2025.
Respective Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for Plateau and Sokoto states announced that the exercise would take place at Registration Area centres, with PVC collection continuing at INEC offices at the local government level after the display period.
In a statement by the Plateau REC, Prof. Sam Egwu, made available to journalists in Jos on Thursday, the commission said the exercise was in accordance to Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates it to display the voter register not less than 90 days before the general elections.
Egwu said: “The Independent National Electoral Commission, Plateau State, wishes to inform the good people of Plateau State that the commission will commence display of the Preliminary Register of Voters, attend to the hearing of claims and objections as well as collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) simultaneously in all the 207 Registration Areas in the state, from the 9th to 15th of October 2026 (7 days and weekends inclusive). Time is 9 am -3 pm daily.
“All registered voters are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to carefully check information they provided, such as their names, photographs, date of birth, polling units and other relevant registration details to make necessary claims and objections within this stipulated period as an accurate voter register is important for free and credible elections.”
Sokoto REC, Umar Garba, while briefing journalists on the commission’s preparations for the 2027 general elections at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Press Centre, said the exercise was part of INEC’s activities ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said: “The commission was committed to ensuring that eligible voters were given the opportunity to verify their registration details and collect their PVCs.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission will commence the display of the preliminary register of voters for claims and objections, as well as the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards from the 9th to the 15th of October 2026.”