The Independent National Electoral Commission has commenced the display of the preliminary voter register and distribution of Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the 2027 general elections. The seven-day exercise runs from October 9 to 15, 2026, allowing registered voters to verify their details, submit claims and objections, and collect eligible PVCs.
INEC said the exercise would take place across Registration Area centres in states, including Plateau and Sokoto, between 9am and 3pm daily. Plateau Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Sam Egwu, said the exercise would cover all 207 Registration Areas in the state, in line with Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026.
The commission urged registered voters to check their names, photographs, dates of birth, polling units and other registration details to ensure the accuracy of the register. It said the process would give voters an opportunity to correct errors and raise objections within the stipulated period, supporting credible elections.
Egwu disclosed that PVCs from the first phase of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise, conducted between August 18 and December 10, 2025, would be available for collection during the display period. Sokoto REC, Umar Garba, also confirmed that the exercise would combine voter register verification with PVC distribution.
However, Garba said cards relating to lost or damaged PVCs, transfers, updates and registrations from the second and third phases of the registration exercise were not yet ready. He said INEC would announce when those cards became available and that collection would continue at its offices across Sokoto’s 23 local government areas after October 15.
The Sokoto REC said the commission was working with security agencies to ensure a safe process and effective distribution of PVCs. He added that INEC was consulting security authorities to determine the number of internally displaced persons in the state and establish how eligible voters in recognised camps could participate in the 2027 elections.
Garba assured eligible voters that the commission remained committed to ensuring they could collect their cards and exercise their democratic rights. He also said INEC would announce the total number of registered voters in Sokoto State at the appropriate time.
