INEC Restricts Voter Cards Collection To FCT Ahead Of Council Polls

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified that the ongoing permanent voter cards (PVCs) collection exercise applies only to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ahead of the February 21, 2026, Area Council elections.

In a statement posted on its official X handle yesterday, the commission addressed residents of other states, urging them not to rely on unverified information regarding PVCs collection in their respective areas.

The clarification, according to INEC, forms part of its ongoing efforts to ensure transparency, accessibility, and orderly voter participation ahead of the forthcoming local elections in the FCT and future elections nationwide.

Recall that INEC, on Tuesday, announced the commencement of PVC distribution ahead of the February 21 Area Council elections in the FCT. The commission disclosed this in a statement on its official X handle, urging eligible voters in the territory to take advantage of the exercise and collect their PVCs.

According to INEC, PVC collection will take place at voters’ respective Registration Areas (wards) from January 22 to January 26, between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. daily.

The commission added that eligible voters who are unable to collect their PVCs at their wards within the stipulated period would be able to do so thereafter at the INEC Area Council offices across the FCT.

However, clarifying the scope of the exercise, the commission stated:

“Dear residents of other states, the current PVC collection exercise applies only to the FCT, ahead of the February 21, 2026, Area Council Election.”

INEC further explained that schedules for PVC collection in other states have not yet been determined, noting:

“For other States, the dates for PVC collection have not yet been fixed by the Commission.”

The electoral body assured voters nationwide that once collection dates are finalised, they would be officially announced through all INEC communication platforms.

“Once the schedule is finalised, it will be officially announced on all INEC platforms,” the statement said.

To avoid confusion and ensure proper planning, INEC called on eligible voters outside the FCT to exercise patience and await official communication.

“We urge all eligible voters in other States to wait for official communication and avoid relying on unverified information.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.”

The commission reiterated its commitment to keeping Nigerians adequately informed on all electoral processes, stressing that timely and accurate information remains critical to credible elections.

INEC assured that official updates on voter registration and PVC collection across the country would continue to be disseminated through its verified communication channels.

It also encouraged voters to regularly monitor INEC’s official platforms for updates, noting that reliance on unofficial sources could lead to misinformation and unnecessary confusion in the electoral process.