FCT Council Elections: 1.58 Million Collect PVCs as Abuja Prepares to Elect Chairmen, Councillors

Abuja, Nigeria – More than 1.58 million voters have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections, signalling strong participation as residents prepare to elect council chairmen and councillors.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) disclosed that 1,680,315 people registered for the polls, while 1,587,025 PVCs had been collected as of February 10.

High PVC Collection Across Six Area Councils

INEC said all six area councils recorded significant turnout in PVC collection. Kuje posted the highest collection rate, while Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kwali and Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) also reported strong participation.

The commission described the figures as a sign of voter readiness but emphasised that only registered voters with valid PVCs will be allowed to cast their ballots.

“Only duly registered voters in possession of valid PVCs will be allowed to vote,” INEC said in a statement on Friday.

BVAS and Electronic Transmission

INEC confirmed that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) will be deployed in all polling units across the FCT to accredit voters, with results transmitted electronically.

The commission said the technology is aimed at strengthening transparency and credibility in the electoral process.

Security Measures in Place

Security agencies are expected to restrict movement during voting hours to ensure order and safeguard the conduct of the election.

Voters across the six area councils will elect chairmen and councillors, in what is seen as a key grassroots political contest in the nation’s capital.