By Abuja, Nigeria
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says more than 1.5 million registered voters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the Area Council elections scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026.
In a statement signed by National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the commission described the turnout as impressive and a clear indication of voters’ preparedness for the polls.
INEC disclosed that 1,680,315 voters are registered in the FCT as of the close of PVC collection on February 10, 2026. Out of the total, 1,587,025 cards were collected which represent a 94.4 per cent collection rate while 93,290 remained unclaimed.
According to INEC, Abaji records 75,517 PVCs collected out of 79,471 registered voters (95.0%); Bwari records 276,360 PVCs collected out of 295,711 (93.5%); Gwagwalada records 196,184 PVCs collected out of 208,057 (94.3%); Kuje records 144,109 PVCs collected out of 148,286 (97.2%); Kwali records 99,774 PVCs collected out of 107,203 (93.1%) while Municipal Area Council records 795,081 PVCs collected out of 841,587 (94.5%).
The commission added that several registration areas recorded collection rates above 99 per cent, reflecting strong grassroots participation across the territory. INEC commended residents for their cooperation during the Continuous Voter Registration and PVC collection exercise, noting that the turnout demonstrates readiness to participate in the democratic process.
The commission reiterated that only registered voters with valid PVCs will be allowed to vote on election day while assuring residents that adequate arrangements have been made to ensure a free, fair and credible election.
