By Nkechi Eze
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a remarkable voter turnout in the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) across the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), ahead of the scheduled Area Council Election on Saturday, 21 February 2026.
According to an official statement by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information & Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, a total of 1,680,315 voters are registered in the FCT. Of this number, 1,587,025 PVCs have been collected, representing an impressive 94.4 per cent collection rate, leaving only 93,290 PVCs uncollected.
Breakdown by Area Council shows strong engagement across the Territory. Kuje Area Council led with a 97.2 per cent collection rate, while Municipal Area Council recorded 94.5 per cent. Other councils also posted high figures: Abaji – 95.0 per cent; Bwari – 93.5 per cent; Gwagwalada – 94.3 per cent; and Kwali – 93.1 per cent. At the Registration Area level, several RAs achieved collection rates exceeding 99 per cent, highlighting robust grassroots participation.
The Commission commended FCT voters for their cooperation and responsiveness during the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) and PVC collection exercises. “The impressive figures recorded across the Area Councils indicate strong citizen readiness to participate in the electoral process,” Haruna stated.
INEC reiterated that only duly registered voters in possession of valid PVCs will be allowed to vote on Election Day. The Commission assured the public that all necessary arrangements have been made to ensure a free, fair, and credible election.
This record turnout underscores growing civic engagement in the FCT and sets a strong precedent for electoral participation in Nigeria.
