By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday, February 20, said 1,587,025 voters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), making them eligible voters in the area council elections scheduled for Saturday, February 21.
According to a statement by INEC spokesperson, Mohammed Haruna, a total of 1,680,315 voters are registered across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
However, 1,587,025, representing 94.4 per cent of the electorate, have collected their PVCs, making them the only eligible voters.
According to INEC regulations, only voters with PVCs can vote during elections, making people with uncollected PVCs ineligible to vote.
The statement reads, “INEC reiterates that only duly registered voters in possession of valid PVCs will be allowed to vote on election day.
“The commission has put all necessary arrangements in place to ensure a free, fair, and credible election.”
The electoral body noted that several registration areas recorded collection rates exceeding 99 per cent, reflecting strong grassroots engagement and readiness to participate in the electoral process.
A breakdown of eligible voters showed that in Abaji Area Council, 75,517 PVCs (95 per cent) have been collected out of 79,471 registered voters.
In Bwari, 276,360 (93.5 per cent) of 295,711 PVCs have been collected, and 196,184 (94.3 per cent) of 208,057 PVCs have been collected in Gwagwalada.
INEC noted that in Kuje, 144,109 (97.2 per cent) of 148,286 PVCs have been collected, and 99,774 (93.1 per cent) of 107,203 in Kwali.
For the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), INEC said 795,081 (94.5 per cent) of 841,587 PVCs have been collected.
There are 637 candidates jostling for 68 positions, comprising 62 councillors and six area council chairperson seats, in the forthcoming FCT area council elections.
The candidates include two incumbent chairpersons, Abubakar Abdullahi and Christopher Maikalangu, who are seeking re-election.
