South-East: Abia records 460,011 new voters, only 21,528 collect PVCs

By Steve Oko, Anayo Okoli, Emmanuel Iheaka, Vincent Ujumadu, Jeff Agbodo and Chinedu Adonu With preparations for the 2027 general elections gathering momentum, the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) has emerged as a major concern in the South-East, where the region accounts for the lowest share of Nigeria’s registered voters. While the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reported progress in some states, the absence of updated figures in others has made it difficult to assess the overall level of PVC collection across the geopolitical zone.

INEC statistics show that the South-East has 11,976,218 registered voters, representing 11.58 per cent of Nigeria’s national voter register of 103,428,715. The North-West leads with 25,083,411 registered voters, representing 24.25 per cent, followed by the South-West with 19,614,274, or 18.96 per cent. The North-Central has 16,965,787 registered voters, representing 16.41 per cent, while the South-South accounts for 15,823,550, or 15.30 per cent.

The North-East has 13,965,475 registered voters, representing 13.51 per cent. The figures underscore the disparity in voter registration across the six geopolitical zones and the need for increased mobilisation in the South-East ahead of the 2027 elections. Investigations by Vanguard indicate that PVC distribution and collection in the region remain uneven, with some state offices yet to release updated statistics.

Abia: Only 21,528 of 460,011 new registrants collect PVCs Only 21,528 of the additional voters registered in Abia State have collected their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the 2027 general elections, INEC has said. The figure represents about 4.7 per cent of the 460,011 additional registrants, raising concerns about the pace of collection as preparations for the elections intensify.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Abia State, Professor Sylvia Agu, told Vanguard that the state had 2,620,151 registered voters for the 2027 elections, compared with 2,180,140 in 2023. The difference between the two figures represents an increase of 440,011 registered voters. Agu said 21,528 PVCs had been collected as of October 22, 2026, explaining that the cards had not all arrived in the state, as INEC was receiving them in batches.

She said the commission expected more PVCs to arrive and commended newly registered voters for their enthusiasm in collecting their cards. The REC added that INEC had been sensitising residents on the importance of PVC collection and expressed optimism that the exercise would record significant success in the state. Imo, Ebonyi yet to release updated figures In Imo State, INEC is yet to release certified figures for registered voters and PVC collection as it continues to address issues arising from the display of the voters’ register.

The Head of Voter Education and Publicity of INEC in the state, Mrs Emmanuella Ben-Opara, told Vanguard that the commission was reviewing complaints, including reports that some persons listed in the register were deceased. She said it would be premature to release final figures while the process was ongoing. “We still have more than two months to the election.

You know we just displayed the voters’ register, and now we are dealing with issues arising from the register. Some people coming to say that some persons whose names are there are dead. So, we have to look at these things and address them,” she said. Ben-Opara, however, described the rate of PVC collection in the state as encouraging, although she declined to provide figures.

“People are collecting their PVCs and the rate is encouraging, but I can’t give you the number now. It is a public document which we will make available when the process is completed,” she added. In Ebonyi State, INEC said it had commenced the distribution of PVCs to newly registered voters but did not provide figures on the number of cards collected or the updated voter register.

The Head of Voter Education in the state, Mr Victor Okoh, said the commission’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) department was still compiling the relevant data. He said the available figure for registered voters remained the 1,558,840 recorded in the register used for the 2023 general elections, pending the completion of the updated register.

Okoh said the number of PVCs collected by newly registered voters would be determined after the ongoing distribution exercise had been concluded. “For the number of registered voters, what I can give you for now is the register used for the 2023 general elections, which stood at 1,558,840. The ICT department is still gathering the data for this year’s register, which will soon be ready,” he said.

He urged eligible voters to take advantage of the ongoing exercise to collect their PVCs ahead of the 2027 elections. Anambra gets 5,720 BVAS, deploys 22,280 ad hoc staff INEC has procured 5,720 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines and plans to deploy 22,280 ad hoc staff for