FCT Polls: INEC Kicks Off Distribution Of PVCs At Ward Level

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the distribution of 128,396 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) at the ward level across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ahead of the February 21 Area Council election.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the FCT, Aminu Idris, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said the PVC collection (in-person) exercise will run until next Monday, from 9:00am to 3:00pm daily, across all 62 Registration Areas (wards) in the six Area Councils of the FCT.

The FCT INEC boss added that collection will continue thereafter at the commission’s Area Council offices.

Idris explained that the PVCs available for collection include cards for newly registered voters, voters who transferred their registration within or into the FCT, those who requested replacement for lost or defaced PVCs, as well as cards from previous registration exercises yet to be collected.

He said the PVCs remain the only valid document for voter accreditation, in line with Section 47(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), insisting that the cards will not be issued by proxy and must be collected in person by their rightful owners.

Providing an update on voter registration figures, the REC disclosed that following the suspension of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in the FCT on 12th October 2025, a total of 106,855 persons registered as new voters.

“After the deduplication exercise, 102,307 valid new voters were added to the register, bringing the total number of registered voters in the FCT to 1,680,315, compared to 1,570,307 recorded during the 2023 general election,” he said.

Idris also revealed that the FCT recorded 8,476 transfers into the territory and 775 transfers out.

He assured FCT residents that INEC had made significant progress in line with its timetable and schedule of activities.

Idris further disclosed that INEC has intensified voter education and sensitisation activities, published the final register of voters for the election, and strengthened collaboration with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

He added that the commission commenced training for election security personnel and initiated engagements with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to ensure seamless logistics on election day.

The REC noted that INEC remains mindful of the unique responsibility of conducting elections in the FCT, given its population size, terrain, and security considerations, and assured that these factors have been adequately integrated into INEC’s operational planning.