The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has kicked off the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging eligible residents to collect them ahead of the upcoming Area Council elections scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026.
In a statement posted on its official X handle on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, INEC announced that PVC collection has commenced to ensure voters are ready to participate in the polls, which will fill chairmanship and councillorship positions across the FCT’s six area councils and 62 wards.
The commission stated that collection will take place at voters’ respective Registration Areas (wards) from Thursday, January 22, to Monday, January 26, 2026, daily between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
For those unable to collect their PVCs during this window, INEC confirmed that distribution will continue afterward at the INEC Area Council offices throughout the FCT.
The statement read in part: “Dear #FCT Resident, as we prepare for the February 21st Area Council Election, INEC is bringing your PVC closer to you. Don’t miss the chance to collect your PVC in the FCT.
“From Jan 22–26, 9 am –3 pm daily, visit your Registration Area (Ward) to collect your Permanent Voter Card (PVC). After the 26th, collection continues at INEC Area Council Offices.”
INEC encouraged FCT residents to take advantage of the exercise and track their PVC status or locate collection points using the online tool at https://cvr.inecnigeria.org/Locator.
The February 21 election is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. across all polling units in the FCT, with 17 political parties fielding candidates for the various positions. Eligible voters must present their PVCs for accreditation using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), as no PVC means no voting.
This PVC distribution follows INEC’s recent publication of the revised register of voters for the FCT, which now stands at 1,680,315 registered voters, an increase from previous figures.
The commission has emphasized the importance of widespread participation to make every vote count in the local government polls.
