The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that over 1.58 million Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been collected in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ahead of the Area Council elections scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026.
In a statement issued by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, INEC disclosed that as of February 10, 2026, a total of 1,680,315 voters were registered in the FCT.
Of that figure, 1,587,025 PVCs had been collected, representing a 94.4 per cent collection rate. The commission said 93,290 cards remain uncollected.
PVC Collection by Area Council
- Abaji: 75,517 of 79,471 (95.0%)
- Bwari: 276,360 of 295,711 (93.5%)
- Gwagwalada: 196,184 of 208,057 (94.3%)
- Kuje: 144,109 of 148,286 (97.2%) — highest collection rate
- Kwali: 99,774 of 107,203 (93.1%)
- AMAC: 795,081 of 841,587 (94.5%)
INEC noted that several Registration Areas recorded collection rates above 99 per cent, describing the turnout as a strong indication of grassroots participation.
The commission reiterated that only registered voters in possession of valid PVCs will be accredited to vote. It also confirmed that all logistics and operational arrangements have been concluded to ensure a credible and transparent poll.
The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) will be deployed in all polling units, while results will be uploaded electronically to INEC’s Result Viewing Portal.
INEC further clarified that the FCT Area Council elections remain the only local government elections conducted directly by the commission.
Eligible voters will elect six chairmen and 62 councillors across 68 constituencies in Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali Area Councils.
Movement will be restricted from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Election Day, while political campaigns officially ended at midnight on February 19.
About the Author
