29,314 PVCs Uncollected In Taraba For 2027 Polls, Says INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that about 29,314 permanent voter cards (PVCs) remain uncollected in Taraba State.

The state’s resident electoral commissioner (REC), Dr Sa’ad Umar Idris, disclosed this, yesterday, at a stakeholders’ meeting on election readiness, PVC distribution and collaboration towards the 2027 general elections in Jalingo.

He urged eligible voters to collect their cards ahead of the general elections.

Idris said the outstanding cards comprised 13,826 old PVCs issued between 2011 and 2023 and 15,488 cards from the first phase of the 2025 voter registration exercise.

He explained that of the 15,568 old PVCs received by the commission, only 1,742, representing 11 per cent, had been collected.

“Similarly, of the 31,676 new cards received under the first phase of the 2025 registration exercise, 16,188, representing 51 per cent, had been collected.”

The REC attributed the low collection figures to the need for intensified voter sensitisation and called on political parties, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other stakeholders to mobilise eligible voters to collect their cards within the stipulated period.

He announced that PVC distribution would continue at INEC offices across the 16 local government areas from 19 October to 30 November 2026, between 9am and 3pm on weekdays, excluding public holidays.

Dr Idris added that a final distribution exercise would take place at the Registration Area level from 1 December to 7 December 2026, covering all phases of registration, transfers and card replacements arising from requests made between 18 August 2025 and 26 July 2026.

He said the Commission had also taken PVC distribution closer to the people during the display of the Preliminary Register of Voters and the claims and objections exercise conducted at ward and Registration Area levels from 9 October to 15, 2026.

The REC disclosed that 2,254,380 registered voters were captured in the register displayed during the exercise, and stressed that the figure was not final because the Commission was still processing complaints, claims and objections submitted by members of the public.

According to him, the final figure would be announced after the completion of data integration.

On preparations for the 2027 elections, Dr Idris said INEC had commenced renovation of some of its offices, staff training and the mapping of electoral facilities across the state to ensure effective polling arrangements.

He added that testing of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) had been completed, and that a mock accreditation exercise was scheduled for November to assess the technology’s readiness ahead of election day.

The REC further disclosed that recruitment of election officials commenced on 18 September 2026 and urged interested and qualified Nigerians to apply through the Commission’s recruitment portal at pres.inecnigeria.org before the 18 November deadline.

He said INEC was also collaborating with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) on vehicle hire and transportation arrangements to ensure the timely movement of election personnel and materials across the state.

In a goodwill message, the Taraba State Police Commissioner, CP Edwin Ogbeghagha, has assured political parties of its neutrality in the 2027 elections.

CP Ogbeghagha therefore warned politicians and their supporters against violence, confrontation, and other actions that could disrupt the electoral process.

The Commissioner of Police further said security agencies were prepared to work with political parties and other stakeholders to ensure peaceful elections before, during and after the exercise.

CP Ogbeghagha stressed that elections should not be treated as a do-or-die affair, noting that the primary responsibility of all stakeholders was to ensure a credible and peaceful process.

He said the police would remain accessible to political parties, listen to their complaints and provide necessary guidance, while urging party leaders to educate their supporters on the need to obey electoral rules and avoid confrontations.

The CP insisted that security agencies would not discriminate against any political party, as their allegiance was to the Nigerian state and the protection of all citizens.

He also urged political actors to notify security agencies of their campaign activities and cooperate with them to prevent avoidable clashes and threats to public safety.

According to him, maintaining peace during elections requires collective commitment, as security agencies cannot achieve this objective without cooperation from political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.

In his remarks, the Director General of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Hon. Kuriya Tafarki Auta, commended INEC for bringing political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations and other stakeholders together ahead of the 2027 polls.

Hon. Auta, who said he had been involved in electoral activities for nearly three decades, described the meeting as an important step towards strengthening collaboration among the various actors in the electoral process.

He called for sustained engagement between INEC, political parties, security agencies and civil society organisations, stressing that effective communication and cooperation were essential to addressing electoral grievances and preventing disputes from escalating.

The IPAC DG urged security agencies to respond promptly to complaints related to electoral activities, while expressing concern about the deployment of personnel who might not understand the local languages and peculiarities of the communities to which they were assigned.

Hon. Auta expressed optimism that improved collaboration among stakeholders would contribute to peaceful elections in 2027.

Also speaking, the Aku Uka of Wukari, Dr Ishaku Ada Ali, who was represented at the meeting, reaffirmed the commitment of traditional rulers in Taraba State to peaceful elections and voter mobilisation.

He said traditional rulers were non-partisan and would not align with any political party but would continue to encourage their subjects to fulfil their civic responsibilities.

The monarch pledged the support of traditional institutions in promoting peaceful participation in the electoral process, and urged political actors and their supporters to regard one another as brothers and fellow Nigerians, irrespective of their political affiliations.

He also prayed for divine guidance and wisdom for leaders and citizens to sustain peace and mutual understanding throughout the electoral process.