Ndigbo Lagos Urges Igbo Residents to Register, Collect PVCs Ahead of 2027 Polls

The umbrella platform representing the Igbo community in Lagos State, Ndigbo Lagos, has called on Ndi Igbo in Lagos, across Nigeria, and in the diaspora to urgently register to vote, verify their voter registration details, and collect their Permanent Voter's Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement signed by its President-General, Major General Obi Abel Umahi (rtd.), OFR, and Secretary-General, Chief Chuma Igwe, the group described the exercise as a non-partisan civic responsibility aimed at ensuring eligible voters are not disenfranchised.

Ndigbo Lagos noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), which commenced in April 2026, will close before the publication of the final voter register on December 15, 2026. 

It also pointed out that the Presidential and National Assembly elections have been scheduled for January 16, 2027, a period that coincides with the Christmas and New Year travel season for many Igbo families resident in Lagos.

According to the group, the earlier election date makes it imperative for eligible voters to complete their registration and collect their PVCs well ahead of time.

It warned that those who delay registering, verifying their details or collecting already printed voter cards risk losing the opportunity to participate in the elections.

"Ndigbo Lagos is not telling anyone who to vote for. It is telling every son and daughter of Igbo extraction, wherever they live, to make sure they can vote at all. A card uncollected is a voice unheard," the statement said.

The organisation urged all Igbo residents in Lagos to immediately confirm their registration status and update their details where necessary before the registration window closes.

It also appealed to town unions, community associations, market and trade groups, churches, women's organisations and youth groups across Lagos to make PVC registration and collection a standing agenda at their meetings and intensify mobilisation efforts.

Special emphasis was placed on first-time voters, whom the group encouraged to register without hesitation, describing the first PVC as the beginning of a lifetime of civic participation.

Ndigbo Lagos extended the appeal to Igbo communities in the five South-East states and other parts of Nigeria, as well as members of the diaspora planning to return home to vote in January 2027, urging them to confirm their registration status well in advance of their travels.

The group disclosed that it would soon commence town hall meetings, community engagements and direct outreach campaigns across Lagos to encourage voter registration and PVC collection.

It also encouraged members of the public experiencing challenges with the registration process to contact the Ndigbo Lagos Secretariat through its hotlines or email for assistance.

The organisation reiterated that its campaign is strictly non-partisan and aimed solely at promoting active civic participation among eligible voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.