2027 Elections: Over 14 Million PVCs Uncollected as INEC Raises Concern Over Voter Turnout

The Independent National Electoral Commission has raised concerns over the failure of millions of registered voters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the 2027 general elections, with more than 14 million cards reportedly awaiting collection across the country.

Three weeks after the latest PVC collection exercise commenced, investigations across several states indicate that a significant number of eligible voters are yet to obtain their cards, potentially limiting their participation in next year’s elections.

Findings show that 6.26 million PVCs were left uncollected before the 2023 general elections. The commission subsequently registered 10,772,421 new voters through the latest Continuous Voter Registration exercise, while the number of uncollected cards from recent registration phases is estimated to have exceeded 14 million. However, several states are yet to release their updated figures.

The situation has become particularly concerning in Plateau, Taraba, Jigawa, Benue and Bayelsa, where INEC has disclosed substantial numbers of PVCs awaiting collection.

In Plateau State, about 95,000 PVCs from previous registration exercises remain unclaimed. Taraba has 29,314 outstanding cards, while Jigawa has 33,079 cards ready for collection. Bayelsa, meanwhile, has 52,225 PVCs from the first phase of the recent registration exercise awaiting collection.

The figures also reveal significant increases in voter registration across several states, including Sokoto, Zamfara, Nasarawa, Benue, Ogun and Kano. However, the lack of complete collection statistics in some states makes it difficult to establish the exact number of voters who are yet to obtain their cards.

In Taraba, the registered voter population stands at 2,254,380, with 29,314 PVCs still uncollected. The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Sa’ad Umar Idris, said the outstanding cards comprise 13,826 legacy PVCs from previous electoral cycles between 2011 and 2023 and 15,488 cards processed during the 2025–2026 registration exercise.

Idris disclosed that INEC processed 31,676 cards arising from new registrations, voter transfers and replacements during the exercise. Only 16,188, representing approximately 51 per cent, had been collected. He appealed to political parties, traditional rulers, religious leaders and civil society organisations to encourage eligible residents to visit INEC offices across the state’s local government areas.

Plateau State recorded 121,821 new voters during the latest registration exercise, while approximately 95,000 PVCs from previous registration exercises remain unclaimed. The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Samuel Egwu, disclosed the figures during a meeting with political party leaders and other stakeholders in Jos.

Women accounted for 65,928 of the new registrants, while men represented 55,893. The commission also received 38,399 requests for voter transfers within and outside the state.

In Jigawa, the registered voter population stands at 2,351,298, with 33,079 PVCs ready for collection by individuals who registered for transfers, corrections and replacements between August and December 2025. The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Muhammad Bashar, also disclosed that the state recorded 515,878 new voters across the three phases of the recent registration exercise.

Zamfara recorded 313,115 additional voters under the CVR exercise as of August 2026, according to its Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Mahmud Isa. The new registrants were added to the 1,952,060 voters recorded in the state for the 2023 general elections.

In Kaduna, 61,494 PVCs had been collected as of October 28, comprising 12,741 old cards and 48,753 newly issued ones. An INEC official, Hajiya Rukaiyatu, said women collected 32,589 cards, compared with 28,905 collected by men.

Nasarawa’s registered voter population has risen to approximately 2.1 million following the registration of 247,000 new voters between 2025 and July 2026. Meanwhile, Sokoto recorded 2,633,113 registered voters, including 461,057 captured during the latest CVR exercise.

The commission’s Public Relations Officer in Sokoto, Hassan Kaoje, said the figure represented 2.55 per cent of the national voter register and urged eligible registrants yet to collect their cards to visit designated collection centres.

Adamawa had 2,431,146 registered voters as of July 2026, while 49,304 PVCs had been collected as of October 23. The state also recorded the transfer of 11,725 voter cards into its register.

In Benue, the registered voter population stands at 3,057,225, including 279,498 new registrants across the state’s 23 local government areas. The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mallam Aminu Idris, said the commission received 101,695 PVCs from its headquarters during the first phase of the CVR and voter transfers.

During the display of the voters’ register between October 9 and 15, a total of 58,581 PVCs were collected. These included 9,139 old cards, 28,854 new CVR cards, 12,707 transferred cards and 7,881 replacement cards. Idris said all existing PVCs remained available for collection at INEC offices across the state.

Kano, which has 6,570,276 registered voters, is yet to compile its total PVC collection figures across its 44 local government areas. The commission’s Public Relations Officer, Nahila Bello Dandago, said the exercise was ongoing and the figures were still being collated.

In Yobe, the voter population increased from 1,485,146 in 2022 to 1,768,671 in 2026, representing an addition of 283,525 voters. In Damaturu Local Government Area, 11,911 PVCs had been collected, while 9,137 remained unclaimed.

The Electoral Officer for Damaturu, Ahmed A. Waziri, said 21,048 cards were available for collection, comprising 8,100 outstanding cards from the 2023 exercise and 12,948 received during the first phase of the latest distribution.

In the South-West, Lagos State said its final register of voters would not be available until December 15, 2026, after the conclusion of the ongoing claims and objections exercise. The state recorded 7,488,633 registered voters in the figures available to INEC.

Ondo has 2,053,061 registered voters, including 76,285 new registrants, while 1,771,326 PVCs had been collected, according to the commission’s Head of Voter Education and Publicity, Olayinka Ogunseye. He cautioned that the figures were preliminary.

Ekiti’s voter population rose to 1,055,708, an increase of 68,061 from the 987,647 recorded during the 2023 general elections. Ogun recorded an additional 348,703 voters, bringing its registered population to 3,037,008 as of October 2026.

Osun has 2,339,233 registered voters, with 1,906,390 PVCs collected as of August. The state’s INEC Public Relations Officer, Musa Olurode, said the figure would be updated as more voters collected their cards.

Meanwhile, INEC officials in Borno, Bauchi and Kebbi declined to provide updated registration and PVC collection statistics, describing the requested information as sensitive or stating that the exercise was still ongoing. Delta officials also failed to provide the requested figures, directing enquiries to the commission’s ICT department.

In Bayelsa, 52,225 PVCs from the first phase of the latest registration exercise remain uncollected out of a total registered voter population of 1,200,691. INEC said collection initially took place at registration area level between October 9 and 15 before being moved to its offices across the state’s eight local government areas.

The commission urged eligible voters who missed the ward-level distribution to visit their respective local government offices to obtain their cards.

With the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, the growing number of uncollected PVCs presents a challenge for INEC as it prepares for the polls. Although voter registration figures have increased across several states, the commission’s ability to convert those registrations into actual participation will depend partly on effective PVC distribution and public mobilisation.