Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced that it will display the preliminary register of voters across Plateau State from Friday, October 9, 2026, as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections, giving registered voters a seven-day window to verify their details, raise claims and file objections before the register is finalised.
The display exercise, scheduled to run from October 9 to October 15, 2026, will hold at Registration Areas across the state's 17 local government areas, with weekends inclusive. The exercise is being conducted alongside the nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards, which also commences on Friday at Registration Area centres. The commission has said the display will allow registered voters to confirm that their names, personal details and polling units are correctly captured, and to challenge any entries they believe are invalid.
The exercise is a statutory requirement under the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates the commission to display the preliminary register of voters for public scrutiny before it is certified as the final register. During the display period, citizens can inspect the register at designated centres, make claims for omissions or corrections, and file objections against individuals they believe are not qualified to be registered. The claims and objections process is a critical integrity mechanism, allowing communities to flag deceased persons, underage registrants, non-citizens and other ineligible entries.
Plateau State's participation in the nationwide exercise comes amid persistent concerns over voter card collection in the state. The commission's Resident Electoral Commissioner in Plateau, Mr Habu Zarma, has previously expressed concern over the low turnout of registered voters collecting their Permanent Voter Cards, describing the trend as worrying ahead of the 2027 elections. Over 95,000 PVCs remained uncollected in the state as of September 2026, according to figures disclosed by the commission. The low collection rate has raised questions about the effectiveness of voter education campaigns in the state, particularly in rural communities where access to collection centres and awareness of the process remain limited.
The commission has also disclosed that it is making arrangements to enable internally displaced persons in nine local government areas affected by communal violence to vote in the 2027 general elections. The IDP voting plan reflects a recognition that displacement caused by insecurity should not deprive citizens of their constitutional right to participate in the electoral process. The state has grappled with recurring violence in recent years, including attacks on communities in Mangu, Barkin Ladi, Bokkos and Riyom local government areas that have forced thousands of residents to flee their homes. The commission's commitment to IDP voting is intended to ensure that these displaced citizens are not disenfranchised.
The register display in Plateau is part of a nationwide exercise that will see the commission open the voter register at all Registration Areas across the country's 774 local government areas. Nigeria's national voter register has risen to more than 103 million, according to figures disclosed by the commission's Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, following the conclusion of the three-phase Continuous Voter Registration exercise. The commission recorded 10,772,421 new registrations after the Automated Biometric Identification System verification and public display for claims and objections. The three-phase CVR began with 2,611,266 registrations between August 25 and December 10, 2025, followed by 4,121,835 registrations between January 5 and April 17, 2026, and 3,867,997 registrations between May 11 and July 26, 2026.
The commission has also announced that the collection of Permanent Voter Cards will commence nationwide on Friday, October 9, and will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, excluding weekends and public holidays. The collection is strictly personal and not by proxy, meaning that no one will be allowed to collect a card on behalf of another person. The commission has emphasised that the PVC remains the primary instrument through which registered voters are accredited and permitted to cast their ballots on election day. The exercise is intended for new registrants, those who recently transferred their polling units, and those whose PVCs were lost or damaged.
The display and collection exercises are taking place amid heightened political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections, which are scheduled for January 16, with the governorship and state assembly elections following on February 6. President Bola Tinubu is seeking a second term on the All Progressives Congress platform, while former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, former Anambra Governor Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement are among the major challengers. Plateau State, with its substantial voting population and strategic location in the North-Central geopolitical zone, will be one of the key battlegrounds in the presidential contest.
The commission has faced criticism over its preparations for the elections, including concerns over the integrity of the voter register and the commission's capacity to transmit results transparently. The Supreme Court's September 28 ruling restored key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 governing party membership registers and candidate nomination procedures, and INEC has said it will act in strict compliance with the judgment. The National Peace Committee has warned political actors against inflammatory campaigns after recording 60 election-related incidents within one month, including political violence, intimidation, threats and misinformation.
For the voters of Plateau State, the coming week offers an opportunity to ensure that their details are correctly captured and that the register reflects only eligible voters. The commission has urged registered voters to visit the display centres in their Registration Areas, verify their information and raise any concerns before the register is finalised. It has also appealed to those who have yet to collect their PVCs to do so during the collection window. As Zarma has emphasised, the integrity of the electoral process depends on the accuracy of the register and the participation of citizens. The coming weeks will determine whether the commission can address the concerns raised by stakeholders and whether the 2027 elections will be conducted on a register that Nigerians can trust.
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