Last updated: 13 October 2026. Electoral dates and procedures can change, so confirm everything on INEC’s official platforms. An earlier version of this guide described a registration exercise that has now ended.
The Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise for the 2027 elections has closed, so the question for most people is no longer “how do I register?” but “am I on the register, and have I collected my PVC?” Here is what happened and what to do next.
What happened
INEC began the CVR on 18 August 2025 with online pre-registration, followed by physical registration. The first phase, from August to December 2025, registered between about 2.6 million and 2.8 million voters, depending on which INEC figure you use. A second phase began in January 2026, and a third ran from 11 May 2026. INEC extended the deadline by two weeks, from 10 July to 26 July 2026, and the exercise ended that day. The commission said the three phases captured more than 10.6 million new applicants, and its chairman later gave a combined figure of 10,772,421 new registrations, including 4.12 million in the second phase and 3.87 million in the third. INEC also said it introduced printable PVCs and, during the Osun election, downloadable PVCs for voters whose cards were stolen. After the public display of the preliminary register and an Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) clean-up, INEC said in October 2026 that the national register had passed 103 million voters.
INEC announced that nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) would start on 9 October 2026 and urged registered voters to collect their cards. It also urged people to ignore unofficial platforms offering fresh registration, since the exercise had closed.
What to do now
- Check your status. Use INEC’s official voter verification service to confirm that your details appear on the register.
- Collect your PVC from the designated centre in the state or local government area where you registered, following INEC’s published schedule and instructions.
- Check your card for correct name, photograph and polling unit, and report errors to INEC at once.
- Keep it safe. Do not lend, sell or pledge it. Buying or selling PVCs is an electoral offence.
- Know your polling unit and how you will get there on election day.
Key dates for 2027
After INEC revised its timetable, reports gave the dates as 16 January 2027 for the presidential and National Assembly elections and 6 February 2027 for governorship and state assembly elections. Always confirm with INEC. Our 2027 election hub keeps track of developments.
Who can vote?
- Nigerian citizens aged 18 or older on the date of registration.
- People who registered and hold a valid PVC. The commission has stressed that a valid PVC is essential to vote.
If you missed registration
The registration window for this cycle has closed. INEC has said that registration continues periodically, and stakeholders have urged it to make registration permanent, but rely on INEC announcements for any new phase and ignore social media claims.
Scams and misinformation
- Voter registration and PVC collection are free. Anyone asking for payment is a fraudster.
- Use only INEC’s official website and social media accounts, and visit INEC offices in person for card collection.
- Do not give out your BVN, bank details or OTP to anyone claiming to help with registration. See our guides on internet scams and digital identity.
- Check claims about “extensions” or “disenfranchisement” with INEC before you share them. See our guide to verifying news.
Why your vote matters
Turnout in Nigeria has fallen over time: 43.65% in 2015, 34.75% in 2019 and 26.72% in 2023. A register of more than 103 million only matters if people collect their cards and turn out. Learn about the 21 registered parties, Nigerian democracy and the National Assembly, and read our guide on politics and development.
PVC Collection: What We Know
INEC announced Friday, 9 October 2026 as the start of nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the 2027 elections. Details can differ by state, and in earlier exercises INEC handed out cards first at registration area centres and then at local government offices. Collection is in person: INEC has repeatedly said that collecting a card on someone else’s behalf (proxy collection) is not allowed, and it is free, so anyone asking you to pay is not an INEC official.
- Check first: use INEC’s official voter portal (cvr.inecnigeria.org) to see whether your card is ready and where to collect it. Be wary of other sites claiming to check status, since fake portals are common.
- Bring identification and your temporary voter’s card if you still have it. INEC has said staff can search the distribution list if you have lost the slip.
- Printable and downloadable cards: INEC said it introduced printable PVCs under the Electoral Act 2026 to shorten waiting times, and in the Osun election it allowed voters whose cards were stolen to use downloadable PVCs.
- Registration has closed: the continuous voter registration exercise ended on 26 July 2026, and INEC warned on 3 October about a fake online portal claiming to register new voters.
Can You Vote Without a PVC?
INEC and election officials describe the PVC as the only valid means of accreditation for the governorship election in Osun, and reports on the Electoral Act 2026 say the same for general elections. In other words, you should plan to vote with a collected card, so do not wait until election week. The presidential election is on 16 January 2027 and the governorship elections on 6 February 2027.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting until the last weeks, when queues are longest.
- Trusting unofficial websites, agents or social media posts that ask for money or personal details.
- Selling or lending your card. Vote buying is an offence. See our guide to democracy in Nigeria.
- Forgetting to confirm your polling unit and registration details after collecting the card.
Key Dates at a Glance
- Registration: three phases between August 2025 and 26 July 2026, with 10,772,421 new registrations reported.
- Voter register: more than 103 million after INEC’s final biometric cleanup.
- PVC collection: starts 9 October 2026.
- Presidential election: 16 January 2027. Governorship elections: 6 February 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still register to vote?
The CVR ended on 26 July 2026. Watch INEC announcements for any new phase.
Where do I collect my PVC?
At the designated collection point where you registered, according to INEC’s schedule.
Is registration free?
Yes. INEC does not charge for registration or PVC collection.
Do I need a PVC to vote?
Yes. INEC has said a valid PVC is essential to participate.
Sources
- Nairametrics: Nigeria’s voter register surpasses 103 million
- Daily Trust: Votes will count, INEC vows as voter registration ends
- Opinion Nigeria: INEC tells Nigerians to complete voter registration as CVR ends today
- INEC: Statement of 5 February 2026 (first-phase CVR figures)
- Dubawa: Continuous Voter Registration, six steps
- BellaNaija: Nigeria 2027 election dates and PVC guide
- Blueprint: INEC announces date for nationwide PVC collection
- Guardian: Osun 2026, INEC commences PVC distribution
- INEC: What do I need to collect my PVC
