By BONIFACE AKARAH

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that nationwide collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) will begin on Friday, October 9, as the number of registered voters in Nigeria reaches 103 million ahead of the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, disclosed this on Thursday, October 8, 2026, in Lagos while delivering the keynote address at the 10th Annual Conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), themed “2027 Elections: Trust, Transparency and Shared Responsibilities.”

Amupitan said the commission had completed the processing and printing of new voter cards using its newly introduced Printable PVC technology, paving the way for nationwide collection at designated Local Government offices and Registration Area centres.

“Having completed the processing and printing of new voter cards using our newly introduced Printable PVC technology, the nationwide collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) will officially commence tomorrow, Friday, 9th October 2026—the day immediately following this conference,” Amupitan said.

He urged online publishers to use their platforms to educate and mobilise registered voters to collect their cards, saying the exercise would take place across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

“We appeal to GOCOP and the online publisher community to leverage your expansive platforms to educate, mobilise, and direct registered citizens across the 36 States and the FCT to collect their cards at designated Local Government offices and Registration Area centers seamlessly,” he said.

The INEC chairman said the 103 million figure followed three phases of Continuous Voter Registration conducted between August 2025 and July 2026.

According to him, the first phase captured 2,611,266 new voters, while the second and third phases recorded 4,121,835 and 3,867,997 new voters respectively.

He said the commission had also completed the public display of the Preliminary Register of Voters for claims and objections, while its Information Communication Technology Department was finalising the official PDF Register and synchronising the data through the Automated Biometric Identification System to remove duplicate registrations.

“Currently, our Information Communication Technology Department is completing the generation of the official PDF Register of Voters for nationwide display, alongside the final synchronisation of CVR data through our Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) to eliminate duplicate registrations,” Amupitan said.

On preparations for the 2027 polls, the INEC chairman said the commission was moving from broad strategic planning into intensified operational readiness, quality assurance and physical deployment.

He said the election timetable, issued on February 26, 2026, contains 14 critical statutory activities, with the commission currently advancing towards the conclusion of the ninth activity.

Amupitan said the commission was coordinating the preparations through 23 headquarters departments and directorates, 36 state offices, the FCT and 774 Local Government Area offices covering more than 176,000 polling units.

He also disclosed that INEC had upgraded its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), begun a nationwide audit of the devices and procured additional units based on operational needs.

The commission, he added, had introduced an enhanced eEC8A protocol designed to digitise polling-unit result sheets immediately after counting and transmit cryptographically signed copies to the public results portal.

“Technology remains our primary bulwark against manual manipulation and administrative fraud,” Amupitan said.

He added that INEC had also deployed AI-based data-auditing tools and multiple cybersecurity measures in partnership with technology companies including Google and Microsoft to protect its databases from cyber threats.

The INEC chairman said early procurement of non-sensitive materials had commenced, while new operational vehicles were being distributed to state offices and LGAs to address transportation challenges.

He said the commission was also conducting zonal readiness assessments, staff training and direct engagements with election officials across the country.

Amupitan warned that INEC officials who compromise neutrality would face disciplinary and legal consequences.

“To the voter in a local ward, INEC is not the Chairman in Abuja; INEC is you,” he quoted himself as telling field officers during a recent assessment in Kaduna.

He added: “Partisanship, administrative carelessness, or ethical compromises will be met with immediate dismissal and statutory prosecution.”

The 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.