Former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Oyibe Jibrin (retd.), has urged eligible Nigerians to take the collection of their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) seriously as the country begins another phase of preparations for the 2027 general election.
Jibrin’s appeal comes as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) prepares to commence nationwide collection of newly issued PVCs on October 9, placing renewed emphasis on practical voter participation ahead of the election.
INEC Sets October 9 for Nationwide PVC Collection
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, announced October 9, 2026, as the commencement date for the nationwide collection of newly issued PVCs.
Amupitan disclosed the date on Monday in Kaduna during the commission’s North-West Zonal Interactive Meeting with staff and readiness assessment for the 2027 general election.
INEC said the recent voter registration exercise produced more than 10.7 million new registrations nationwide, subject to the commission’s verification processes.
The commission has also directed its officials to identify and eliminate operational bottlenecks that could prevent eligible citizens from collecting their PVCs, particularly at the Local Government Area level.
The development forms part of the wider preparations for the 2027 polls. The Bureau Journal’s Nigeria 2027 Elections Voters Guide provides further information on the electoral timetable, voter participation and major issues surrounding the next general election.
Jibrin Wants Nigerians to Take Voter Participation Seriously
Against this backdrop, Jibrin is urging Nigerians who registered during the latest voter registration exercise, as well as eligible citizens who need to complete outstanding aspects of the electoral process, to pay close attention to the PVC collection exercise.
The former naval chief’s message is particularly relevant to citizens who may assume that completing registration automatically means they have completed every step required to participate in the election.
With INEC now moving from registration to PVC collection, eligible voters will need to follow the commission’s procedures and make use of the collection arrangements provided in their respective locations.
The Bureau Journal has continued to track INEC’s preparations for the 2027 elections, including changes to electoral constituencies. In August, the commission restored four previously suppressed State House of Assembly constituencies in Kogi and Delta following court judgments.
That development is part of the wider electoral adjustments taking place before 2027 and further underscores the importance of voters staying informed about changes affecting their constituencies.
Why PVC Collection Matters Nationwide
The PVC collection exercise will affect eligible voters across the federation, from major cities to rural communities.
For millions of Nigerians who participated in the latest registration exercise, the next stage will be ensuring that their registration has been processed and that they are able to collect their cards through the channels provided by INEC.
That makes the commission’s warning about possible distribution bottlenecks particularly significant. The success of voter registration ultimately depends not only on enrolling eligible citizens but also on ensuring that the necessary electoral documentation reaches those who are entitled to receive it.
The issue is therefore not limited to Kogi East or any other particular political constituency. It applies to eligible voters across Nigeria as political parties and candidates prepare for the 2027 election.
Jibrin’s Message Extends Beyond Kogi East
Jibrin’s public interventions have often focused on the Igala people, Kogi State and political developments in the region.
At the 2026 Truth, Peace and Reconciliation Summit in Idah, he spoke about the importance of greater unity and collective action among the Igala people. The Bureau Journal reported extensively on Jibrin’s call for greater Igala unity and the eight areas he identified as capable of strengthening collective development.
His latest voter-related appeal, however, can be viewed within a much wider national context as INEC prepares to begin PVC collection.
Whether in Kogi East, Lagos, Kano, Rivers, Kaduna, Enugu, the Federal Capital Territory or any other part of Nigeria, registered citizens will face the same basic requirement of ensuring that they complete the procedures necessary to participate in the election.
Earlier PVC Mobilisation in Kogi East
The importance of voter mobilisation has already featured prominently in political discussions in Kogi East.
The Bureau Journal previously reported that PDP senatorial hopeful Muhammed Abdullahi, popularly known as “Elephant”, urged eligible residents across the nine Local Government Areas of Kogi East to obtain their PVCs during the voter registration exercise.
The campaign was specifically aimed at encouraging eligible residents to secure their voter cards and participate in the electoral process.
The earlier mobilisation provides a local example of the broader national issue now being highlighted by Jibrin: voters who want to participate in the 2027 election need to complete the required electoral procedures before election day.
The Bureau Journal has also reported the emergence of Joseph Erico as the APC’s Kogi East senatorial candidate, illustrating the extent to which political parties have already begun positioning themselves ahead of 2027.
Kogi East Already Seeing Intense Political Activity
Kogi East has become one of the areas attracting considerable political attention ahead of the next general election.
The APC’s current candidate structure lists Joseph Erico for Kogi East, while other parties and political actors are also organising their structures ahead of the contest.
The Bureau Journal has also reported the APC’s emerging senatorial candidate list for the 2027 elections, which includes candidates for all three senatorial districts in Kogi State.
Those developments mean that voter mobilisation, registration and PVC collection are likely to remain important issues as political parties move from internal nomination exercises towards broader election campaigns.
Jibrin’s Call Comes Amid Political Tension
The former naval chief has also spoken about political conduct and the need for restraint among political actors in Kogi.
Following the reported attack on an African Democratic Congress meeting in Ejule, Ofu Local Government Area, Jibrin called on political leaders to promote peace and ensure that political disagreements do not degenerate into violence.
The Bureau Journal reported on the gun attack on the ADC meeting in Ejule, while noting that allegations concerning responsibility for the incident should not be treated as established facts until investigated by the appropriate authorities.
The incident has added to concerns about the security environment surrounding political activities as the country moves closer to 2027.
INEC Moves to Address PVC Collection Bottlenecks
INEC has acknowledged that logistical and administrative challenges at the grassroots could affect PVC collection.
Amupitan has therefore directed officials to close operational gaps and ensure that eligible voters are not prevented from collecting their cards because of avoidable administrative problems.
The commission is also refining its voter verification and result-transmission systems as part of its broader preparations for the 2027 election.
In addition to PVC distribution, INEC has been making adjustments to electoral arrangements. The Bureau Journal recently reported that INEC restored four State Assembly constituencies in Kogi and Delta following court judgments, with Yagba West II in Kogi among the affected constituencies.
Such changes demonstrate why voters and political stakeholders need to monitor official electoral information rather than rely solely on political campaign messaging.
What Registered Nigerians Should Do
For Nigerians who participated in the recent registration exercise, the immediate priority is to follow INEC’s official guidance on PVC collection and verify the status and collection location of their cards.
Citizens who encounter difficulties should use the procedures provided by INEC for resolving registration or collection issues rather than abandoning the process.
Voters should also remain alert to changes in electoral arrangements affecting their constituencies as INEC continues its preparations for the 2027 polls.
The Bureau Journal’s 2027 election guide provides a broader reference point for Nigerians seeking information about the election, electoral reforms and voter participation.
From Registration to Participation
The transition from voter registration to PVC collection represents an important stage in INEC’s preparations for 2027.
More than 10.7 million new registrations have been recorded, but those registrations remain subject to verification, while the commission works to make the cards available to eligible voters.
For voters, the practical task is to follow INEC’s instructions, check their voter status, identify their collection arrangements and address any problems encountered along the way.
The process is not limited to Kogi East. It concerns eligible Nigerians in every state and the Federal Capital Territory who intend to participate in the 2027 general election.
A National Call Ahead of 2027
While Jibrin’s public profile and recent interventions have strong links to Kogi and the Igala community, his latest voter mobilisation message carries a wider national relevance as INEC prepares to distribute newly issued PVCs.
The October 9 commencement date gives registered Nigerians an opportunity to begin the next stage of preparing for the 2027 election.
For the millions of citizens whose registrations are successfully verified, the practical task will be to follow INEC’s instructions, check their PVC status, locate their collection centres and address any problems encountered along the way.
As the country moves towards another general election, Jibrin’s appeal is ultimately about participation: eligible Nigerians should take the electoral process seriously and ensure that they are prepared to exercise their right to vote when the time comes.
The Bureau Journal will continue to monitor INEC’s PVC collection exercise, voter registration developments and other preparations for the 2027 general election.
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