The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that more than 1.58 million Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been collected across the Federal Capital Territory, signalling strong voter preparedness ahead of council elections slated for Saturday, February 21, 2026.
In a statement signed by INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the commission revealed that as of February 10, 2026, a total of 1,680,315 voters were registered in the FCT, with 1,587,025 PVCs collected, representing a 94.4% collection rate. Only 93,290 cards remain uncollected.
The breakdown across the six area councils shows encouraging turnout:
Abaji: 75,517 of 79,471 voters collected PVCs (95.0%)
Bwari: 276,360 of 295,711 voters (93.5%)
Gwagwalada: 196,184 of 208,057 voters (94.3%)
Kuje: 144,109 of 148,286 voters (97.2%) – highest collection rate
Kwali: 99,774 of 107,203 voters (93.1%)
Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC): 795,081 of 841,587 voters (94.5%)
INEC noted that several registration areas recorded collection rates exceeding 99%, reflecting strong grassroots engagement. The commission commended residents for their cooperation during Continuous Voter Registration and PVC collection exercises.
“Only duly registered voters in possession of valid PVCs will be allowed to vote on Election Day,” the statement emphasised. INEC confirmed that all arrangements have been concluded to ensure a free, fair, and credible election process.
The FCT Area Council elections are unique as they are conducted directly by INEC, unlike other local government elections managed by state electoral commissions. Voters across the six councils will elect six chairmen and 62 councillors across 68 constituencies.
INEC will deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in all polling units, with results transmitted electronically to its Result Viewing Portal. Movement restrictions will be enforced from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on election day, with extensive security deployments to maintain order. Campaign activities officially ended at midnight on February 19.
