The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday warned Nigerians against defacing, misplacing, or improperly handling their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), citing the high cost of producing the cards.
Dr. Queen Elizabeth Agwu, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Anambra State, stated in Awka that careless handling of PVCs—such as placing them in back pockets or alongside other items—often results in broken, defaced, or lost cards, creating additional expenses for the commission.
Agwu advised that voters experiencing issues with misplaced or damaged PVCs should apply for replacements at INEC headquarters or any Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) centre. She emphasized that only individuals who recently turned 18 or those without a PVC are eligible to register for a new card during the ongoing CVR exercise, which started on January 5th and will end on April 7th, 2026.
“The CVR exercise enables citizens who recently attained voting age to participate in the 2027 general election. We urge the media to mobilize eligible voters to register, but no one should engage in double registration, which is an offence. The system detects and removes duplicate entries,” Agwu explained.
She further revealed that as of now, only 4,423 people have registered during the ongoing exercise, urging more eligible citizens to participate. The REC reiterated that those needing PVC replacements or transfers between polling units or states should do so through the appropriate INEC channels.
