Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
The Independent National Electoral Commission in Sokoto State has urged eligible voters to participate actively in the electoral process and maintain confidence in the electoral institution, announcing that the collection of Permanent Voter Cards by registered voters in the state will commence on October 9, 2026, at designated collection centres across the state's 23 local government areas.
The commission made the call in a statement issued on Thursday by its Public Affairs Officer, Hassan Gendane, to mark Nigeria's 66th Independence Anniversary. The statement reaffirmed INEC Sokoto's commitment to conducting elections in accordance with the law and ensuring that every vote is properly accounted for. "INEC Sokoto reaffirms its commitment to conducting elections in accordance with the law and ensuring that every vote is properly accounted for," Gendane said. The commission called on eligible voters to participate peacefully and responsibly, stressing that every citizen has the right to freely choose their preferred candidates.
The announcement comes as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, scheduled for January 16, with the governorship and state assembly elections following on February 6. The collection of PVCs is a critical step in the electoral process, as the card remains the primary means by which registered voters are accredited and permitted to cast their ballots on election day. INEC has consistently emphasised that the collection of newly printed PVCs will be based on personal recognition and not by proxy, meaning that no one will be permitted to pick up a card on someone else's behalf. The collection will take place at designated collection centres, including INEC local government area offices and other designated locations, to ensure that the process is orderly and accessible to all registered voters.
The commission advised citizens to obtain information on the electoral process only through official INEC channels to avoid being misled by unverified information. It urged Nigerians to uphold peace, respect the rule of law and support efforts to strengthen democracy. INEC Sokoto also congratulated Nigerians on the 66th Independence Anniversary and urged citizens to contribute to the sustenance of democratic governance. The appeal for trust in the electoral process comes amid heightened political activity across the country, with campaigns for the 2027 general elections already underway and candidates across parties intensifying their engagements with voters.
The number of uncollected PVCs in Sokoto State remains a significant concern. In a previous stakeholder meeting, INEC's Administrative Secretary in Sokoto State, Hauwa Kangiwa, disclosed that 124,963 Permanent Voter Cards were yet to be claimed in the state. She explained that 86,446 of the unclaimed PVCs were from 2019, with the remainder from subsequent registration exercises. The figure represents a substantial portion of the state's registered voting population. According to INEC data, Sokoto has approximately 1.659 million registered voters, and the commission has distributed 1.572 million PVCs so far, leaving a balance of between 75,000 and 80,000 PVCs in its custody as of the most recent count. The commission has expressed hope that by the end of the collection exercise, the owners will come forward to claim their cards.
The problem of uncollected PVCs is not unique to Sokoto. Across Nigeria, millions of PVCs remain unclaimed in INEC offices, a challenge that has persisted through successive election cycles. The commission has repeatedly urged voters to collect their cards, noting that the PVC is not only a prerequisite for voting but also a vital document for identity verification. The challenge is particularly acute in states with large rural populations, where distance to collection centres and lack of awareness about the process can deter registered voters from collecting their cards. The commission has sought to address these barriers by decentralising collection to ward and local government levels and by conducting voter education campaigns in local languages.
The appeal for confidence in the electoral process is also significant given the broader political context. The 2027 elections will be conducted amid heightened scrutiny of INEC's performance, following controversies that surrounded the 2023 general elections, particularly the failure of the result-viewing portal to upload polling unit results in real time. The commission has since undertaken reforms, including a comprehensive audit of its electoral technology systems and the strengthening of its cybersecurity infrastructure. INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan has said the credibility of the 2027 elections will depend not only on ballot papers and BVAS machines but also on the information environment in which voters form their judgments. The commission has also warned that the misuse of artificial intelligence to create and spread manipulated content is no longer a distant risk, urging voters to rely only on official INEC channels for accurate information.
Political stakeholders in Sokoto State have also been mobilising voters to collect their PVCs. The Sokoto State Government declared Friday, July 24, 2026, as a work-free day for civil servants to enable them to participate in the Continuous Voter Registration exercise and obtain their PVCs ahead of the 2027 general elections. Governor Ahmed Aliyu said the decision was aimed at providing civil servants with adequate time to obtain their cards. The women's wing of the All Progressives Congress in Sokoto also appealed to women and youths to collect their PVCs to enable them to participate in the electoral process. The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress in Sokoto State, Manir Muhammad Dan'iya, called on eligible residents to take advantage of the voter registration exercise before its deadline, and appealed to INEC to extend the exercise by two weeks to enable more eligible Nigerians to register.
For the people of Sokoto State, the October 9 collection exercise represents a crucial opportunity to ensure they are able to exercise their franchise in the 2027 elections. The PVC is the instrument through which voters translate their preferences into political outcomes, and the commission's appeal for trust in the electoral process is an acknowledgement that public confidence is essential to the legitimacy of the democratic process. The coming weeks will determine how many of the uncollected cards are claimed, and whether the commission's message reaches the voters who need to hear it most. As INEC Sokoto put it, every citizen has the right to freely choose their preferred candidates, and the commission is committed to ensuring that every vote is properly accounted for.
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