Nigeria’s electoral commission has launched a massive ward-level operation to distribute more than 128,000 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ahead of next month’s local government elections.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the FCT, Aminu Kasimu Idris, confirmed on Tuesday that 128,396 cards are now available for collection. The exercise is a critical final step before the Area Council elections, which are scheduled for Saturday, 21 February.
The FCT, which houses the seat of government in Abuja, is unique in Nigeria’s electoral system as it is the only part of the country where the national electoral body (INEC) directly conducts local government polls.
Where and when to collect
The commission has set a tight five-day window for residents to collect their cards at the grassroots level:
- Dates: Thursday 22 January to Monday 26 January.
- Time: 09:00 to 15:00 daily.
- Locations: All 62 Registration Areas (wards) across the six Area Councils.
Malam Idris emphasised that the law is strict regarding collection: “PVCs will not be issued by proxy and must be collected in person by their rightful owners.” After the ward-level window closes, any uncollected cards will be moved back to INEC’s central Area Council offices.
Abuja’s growing voter base
Data released by the commission shows a significant surge in interest in the capital’s local politics. Following a registration drive that ended in late 2025, the total number of registered voters in the FCT has climbed to 1.68 million—an increase of over 110,000 since the 2023 General Election.
The available cards cover:
- New voters who registered for the first time.
- Transfers for residents who moved into Abuja or between its councils.
- Replacements for lost or damaged cards.
Logistics and security
Beyond the distribution of cards, the commission says it has entered the “final phase” of its operational planning. This includes the activation of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices and the training of security personnel.
Given the FCT’s complex terrain—which ranges from the high-rise urban centres of Abuja to remote, difficult-to-reach rural communities—INEC has also signed a logistics agreement with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to ensure that ballot boxes reach all polling units on time.
“We are mindful of the unique responsibility of conducting elections in the FCT,” Malam Idris said, reassuring the public that security agencies have been fully briefed to handle the “unpredictable” security landscape in some of the territory’s border areas.
Add Comment