Commission Acquires 57,000 New BVAS Devices as PVC Collection Begins Nationwide October 9.
Enugu Media Village (EMV), the Most Updated Online News Platform | October 7, 2026.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that Nigeria’s National Register of Voters has surpassed 103 million, as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed the figure during a strategic engagement with media executives organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Abuja. He said the increase followed the conclusion of the three-phase Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise and the completion of the commission’s Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) cleanup.
According to INEC, the three-phase CVR exercise attracted 10,772,421 new registrants. The commission said the figure comprises 2,611,266 registrations recorded during the first phase, 4,121,835 during the second phase and 3,867,997 in the third phase.
The commission has also announced that nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will commence on Friday, October 9, 2026, with newly produced cards to be distributed to designated Local Government Area collection centres.
INEC said the preliminary display of the voter register for claims and objections will also run from October 9 to 15, giving registered voters an opportunity to verify their details and raise objections where necessary.
57,000 New BVAS Devices
As part of efforts to strengthen the credibility and efficiency of the electoral process, INEC said it has acquired 57,000 new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices ahead of the 2027 elections.
The commission said the devices have undergone software hardening, battery optimisation and biometric calibration, while other technological upgrades are being implemented to improve accreditation and reduce opportunities for manual interference.
INEC is also strengthening its electronic results-management infrastructure, including an enhanced eEC8A form designed to digitally authenticate polling-unit results before their transmission to the commission’s result-viewing platform.
Public Verification and Voter Responsibility
With the voter register now exceeding 103 million, INEC has urged citizens to take advantage of the verification window to confirm that their personal information is correctly captured.
The commission’s emphasis on claims and objections places greater responsibility on eligible voters to participate in the verification process and report discrepancies through the appropriate channels.
For Nigerians preparing to participate in the 2027 elections, the October 9 commencement of PVC collection and voter-register verification represents an important stage in the electoral timetable.
INEC says it will continue working with relevant stakeholders, including the media and civil society organisations, to strengthen public awareness, transparency and confidence in the electoral process.
As Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 elections, effective public participation, accurate voter information and transparent electoral administration remain critical to ensuring that eligible citizens can exercise their constitutional right to vote.
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