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

. Imo, Ebonyi yet to release figures as INEC addresses voters’ register concerns. Anambra gets 5,720 BVAS, deploys 22,280 ad hoc staff for 2027

. As S’East monarchs target 80% voter participation, suspend ceremonies

With less than 80 days to the 2027 presidential polls, collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), in the South East geopolitical zone has been at the front burner.

While the exercise has recorded a measurable success in some states, in some other states, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, failed to provide data of the number of PVCs received and the exact number distribute.

Statistics from INEC indicates that the South-East recorded the lowest number of registered voters among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, with 11,976,218 voters, representing 11.58 per cent of the national register ahead of the 2027 general elections.

INEC puts Nigeria’s 2026 national voter register at 103,428,715.

The North-West zone leads with 25,083,411 registered voters, accounting for 24.25 per cent of the total, while the South-West ranks second with 19,614,274 voters, representing 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 of the national total.

The figures highlight the disparity in voter numbers across the six geopolitical zones as political parties and INEC prepare for the 2027 elections.

With 11.58 per cent of the national voter register, the South-East has the smallest share of registered voters, hence the need for South East Governments and stakeholders to encourage voters in the zone to collect their PVCs and participate in the forthcoming elections.

Investigations by Vanguard revealed that distribution and collection of PVCs in the South East have not been quite encouraging even though INEC expressed satisfaction with the exercise in some states.

Only 21,528 of the 460,011 additional voters registered in Abia State have collected their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said.

The figure represents about 4.7 per cent of the additional registrants, raising questions about the pace of PVC collection as preparations for the elections gather momentum.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Abia State, Professor Sylvia Agu, told Vanguard that the state recorded 2,620,151 registered voters for the 2027 elections, compared with 2,180,140 in 2023.

The difference 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 was expecting more PVCs to arrive and commended newly registered voters for their enthusiasm in collecting their cards.

The REC said INEC had been sensitising residents on the need to collect their PVCs and expressed optimism that the exercise would record significant success in the state.

Meanwhile, INEC in Imo State is yet to release the certified number of registered voters and PVCs collected, as it continues to address issues arising from the display of the voters’ register.

The Head of Voter Education and Publicity of INEC in Imo State, Mrs Emmanuella Ben-Opara, told Vanguard that the commission was still reviewing complaints, including reports that some persons listed in the register were deceased.

She said the process was ongoing, making it premature to release the final figures on voter registration and PVC collection.

“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 Imo 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.

INEC said it had commenced PVCs to newly registered voters in Ebonyi State even though the commission failed to disclose the statistics of the distribution status.

The commission said the exercise was ongoing, but figures on the number of PVCs collected and the updated voter register were not yet available.

Head of Voter Education in the state, Mr Victor Okoh, who disclosed this, explained that the commission’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) department was still compiling the relevant data.

Okoh 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.

He said the number of PVCs collected by newly registered voters could only 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.

Okoh urged eligible voters to take advantage of the ongoing exercise to collect their PVCs ahead of the 2027 elections.

INEC said it had procured 5,720 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines and plans to deploy 22,280 ad hoc staff for the 2027 general elections in Anambra State.

The REC in charge of Anambra State, Dr Elizabeth Agwu, disclosed this in Awka, saying the commission had also conducted an infrastructural audit and upgraded its technological facilities to ensure smooth conduct of the polls.

Dr Agwu said INEC had intensified personnel training and improved its information and communications technology infrastructure as part of efforts to deliver credible elections.

She warned political parties and candidates against attempting to induce electoral officials, stressing that the commission would prosecute anyone found culpable.

The REC also declared that electoral fraud and attempts to manipulate the process would not be tolerated.

As part of measures to address electoral malpractices, Agwu said INEC had begun relocating its offices operating within local government secretariats to alternative locations. She added that contracts had been awarded for the construction of storage facilities and other structures.

Urging political parties to focus on issue-based campaigns, she said voters were more interested in candidates’ records and proposed policies than attempts to undermine the electoral process.

“Showcase your political parties, tell the people what you want to do. The people are interested in what you have done before and what you will do for them in future. Don’t plan to scuttle the election because it’s not going to work,” she said.

On voter registration, Agwu said about 2.844 million people had registered to vote in Anambra State.

She said those who registered between January and July during the continuous voter registration exercise were expected to check the displayed registers and collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) at INEC headquarters or designated centres across the state.

The collection exercise for that category of registrants ran from October 9 to 15, while those who registered after July were scheduled to begin collecting their PVCs on November 15.

ENUGU — Efforts by Vanguard to obtain the reaction of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Enugu State on the ongoing Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection and other electoral issues were unsuccessful, as the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, and the Head of Voter Education were unavailable during a visit to the commission’s office.

A receptionist at the office declined to provide the officials’ contact details, insisting that the reporter must first submit a formal application to the REC for approval.

The receptionist also maintained that no official could speak with the reporter without the REC’s authorisation.

Attempts to reach the REC and the Head of Voter Education for their comments were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, traditional rulers in South-East , said they had set a target of 60 to 80 per cent voter participation in the 2027 general elections, vowing to mobilise eligible voters across the region to collect their PVCs and exercise their civic rights.

Chairman of the South-East Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Eze Linus Nto Mbah, who spoke exclusively with Vanguard, said the region’s traditional institutions were taking voter mobilisation seriously to reverse the low participation recorded in previous elections.

Mbah said the monarchs had resolved to intensify grassroots sensitisation and encourage eligible Igbo voters, including those living outside the South-East, to participate in the elections.

He disclosed that the traditional rulers had also agreed to discourage ceremonies and social engagements from January 3rd, 2027, until after the elections to enable people to focus on electoral participation.

“We want to make sure that everybody participates, at least up to 60 or 80 per cent. We are spending resources on this,” Mbah said.

He explained that increased participation would give the region a clearer picture of its voting strength and enable more eligible citizens to exercise their democratic rights.

On the ongoing PVC collection, the monarch said the exercise was still in progress, adding that he would seek updated information on the collection rate.

The initiative, he said, reflects the commitment of South-East traditional institutions to ensuring that eligible voters are mobilised ahead of the 2027 polls.

Mbah urged the people to obtain their PVCs and vote for candidates of their choice, stressing the importance of active participation in the democratic process.

Igbo youths under the aegis of Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) have challenged INEC to ensure timely distribution of PVCs and guarantee credible elections in the South-East in 2027.

The youths warned that no eligible voter in the zone should be disenfranchised by administrative delays, logistical failures or difficulties accessing PVCs.

COSEYLPresident-General, Comrade Goodluck Ibem, in an interview with Vanguard, urged INEC to translate its assurances on electoral preparedness into verifiable results capable of inspiring public confidence.

He called on the commission to improve PVC collection procedures, strengthen voter education, communicate clearly with the public and ensure the neutrality of electoral officials.

“Our message to INEC is simple: Prepare thoroughly, communicate clearly, treat every voter fairly, and ensure that every vote is accurately counted,” the group said.

COSEYL also urged INEC to strengthen electoral technology, establish effective channels for resolving complaints and engage youth organisations across the region in voter education and peaceful electoral participation.

The youths however, clarified that it was not demanding preferential treatment for the South-East but equal access to the electoral process and protection of every eligible citizen’s voting rights.

COSEYL urged youths to collect their PVCs, verify their registration details, reject vote-buying and political violence, and make informed choices at the polls.

“The time to address electoral challenges is before election day, not after the damage has been done,” COSEYL said, urging INEC to demonstrate its readiness through transparent and measurable action ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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