By Abiodun Folarin
WorldStage— The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has announced October 9, 2026 as the commencement date for the collection of newly printed Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The disclosure was made on Monday in Kaduna by the Supervising National Commissioner for Kaduna, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, during the Commission’s North-West Zonal Interactive Meeting with Staff and Readiness Assessment for the 2027 General Election.
Haruna said INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, had also informed the Emir of Zazzau of the scheduled commencement of PVC collection during his recent courtesy visit to the monarch.
He appealed to traditional rulers to mobilise eligible citizens in their communities to collect their PVCs and exercise their constitutional right to vote.
The announcement comes as INEC intensifies preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, and the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections fixed for February 6, 2027.
Speaking at the Kaduna meeting, Amupitan warned INEC staff against partisan conduct, administrative negligence and ethical breaches, stressing that the credibility of the 2027 elections would depend largely on how faithfully officials implement the law.
“Partisan leaning, administrative negligence, or compromised ethics will not be tolerated,” the Chairman said.
He directed electoral officials to remain neutral, strictly follow the Electoral Act 2026 and the Commission’s approved regulations and guidelines, and avoid informal shortcuts in the discharge of their duties.
Amupitan said the conduct of field officials could either strengthen public confidence in the electoral process or fuel voter apathy and disinformation.
“To the voter in a local ward, INEC is not the Chairman in Abuja; INEC is you,” he told the officials.
He said the Kaduna engagement was part of a six-zone readiness assessment tour aimed at identifying operational challenges and strengthening the Commission’s preparations for the 2027 polls.
On staff welfare, the INEC Chairman said the Commission was at an advanced stage of implementing a new salary and welfare package. He disclosed that the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure (CEMBSS) took effect from January 1, 2026, while overhead allocations to State Offices were increased by 150 per cent from July 1.
He also announced that the procurement and distribution of new operational pick-up vehicles to State Offices and Local Government Areas had commenced to improve staff mobility, security and operational efficiency.
