The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has shown readiness to permit eligible Nigerians without Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to vote in the 2027 general elections, but maintains that such a change must be backed by amendments to existing electoral laws.
INEC’s Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, revealed to The PUNCH on Wednesday that while the commission is open to expanding voter access through technology, this would require corresponding legal reforms to move away from the PVC-only system currently in place.
This proposed shift aligns with previous remarks made by INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, during a quarterly consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners held in Abuja in December 2024. At the event, Yakubu underlined the increasing role of technology, especially the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), in modernising Nigeria’s electoral process.
Yakubu noted that although PVCs would remain valid for those who already possess them, INEC was considering allowing the use of computer-generated slips, either issued directly by the commission or downloaded from its website, for voter accreditation in future elections.
“The commission also believes that with the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, the use of the Permanent Voters’ Cards as the sole means of identification for voter accreditation on Election Day should be reviewed,” Yakubu stated.
“Those who already have the PVCs can still use them to vote, but going forward, computer-generated slips issued to the voter or even downloaded from the Commission’s website will suffice for voter accreditation.
“This will not only save cost, it will also eliminate the issues around the collection of PVCs and the diabolical practice of buying up the cards from voters in order to disenfranchise them,” he explained.
The move is aimed at reducing costs, simplifying logistics, and tackling the problem of voter card manipulation. However, for this innovation to be implemented, changes to Nigeria’s electoral laws are essential.
In an interview with The PUNCH, Oyekanmi stressed that the commission’s willingness alone is not enough without legislative support.
“It is not our stand alone that is important. Equally critical is what the subsisting law says. While the commission is favourably disposed to the recommendation by stakeholders (that PVCs alone should not be the only criterion for voting at an election), the law needs to be amended to reflect it,” he said.
INEC’s proposals reflect its commitment to adopting technology to increase voter participation, provided the legal framework supports such advancements.
About The Author
