With less than 24 hours to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a massive surge in citizen participation. Data released by the commission reveals that 1,587,025 voters have successfully collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), signaling a high level of preparedness for the polls.
High Turnout in PVC Collection
According to the statement released on Thursday by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information & Voter Education Committee, the collection rate stands at an impressive 94.4%. Out of the 1,680,315 registered voters in the FCT, only 93,290 cards remain uncollected following the February 10 deadline.
“The impressive figures recorded across the Area Councils indicate strong citizen readiness to participate in the electoral process,” Haruna stated. “The Commission commends voters in the FCT for their responsiveness and cooperation throughout the CVR and PVC collection exercises.”
Breakdown by Area Council
The data shows a consistent engagement across all six Area Councils, with Kuje leading the pack in terms of percentage, while the Municipal Area Council (AMAC) holds the highest volume of ready voters.
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Abaji Area Council: 75,517 PVCs collected out of 79,471 registered voters – 95.0 per cent collection rate
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Bwari Area Council: 276,360 PVCs collected out of 295,711 registered voters – 93.5 per cent
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Gwagwalada Area Council: 196,184 PVCs collected out of 208,057 registered voters – 94.3 per cent
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Kuje Area Council: 144,109 PVCs collected out of 148,286 registered voters – 97.2 per cent (the highest so far)
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Kwali Area Council: 99,774 PVCs collected out of 107,203 registered voters – 93.1 per cent
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Municipal Area Council: 795,081 PVCs collected out of 841,587 registered voters – 94.5 per cent
The Commission further noted that at the Registration Area (ward) level, some locations recorded exceptional collection rates exceeding 99%, which INEC attributes to strong grassroots engagement throughout the territory.
Commitment to Credible Polls
As the FCT prepares for the Saturday, February 21 election, INEC has issued a firm reminder that the “No PVC, No Voting” rule remains strictly in effect. Only individuals in possession of a valid PVC will be granted access to the ballot.
The electoral body assured stakeholders and the general public that all necessary logistical arrangements have been finalized to ensure the exercise is free, fair, and credible.
