The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed readiness to permit eligible Nigerians without Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to participate in the 2027 general elections, provided that necessary legislative amendments are enacted.
Speaking with The PUNCH on Wednesday, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, clarified that while the commission is open to modernising the voting process through technological means, any shift away from the PVC-only voting model must be grounded in law.
“The commission is favourably disposed to the recommendation by stakeholders that PVCs alone should not be the only criterion for voting at an election,” Oyekanmi said. “However, the law needs to be amended to reflect it.”
The development follows remarks made by INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, in December 2024 during a quarterly consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners in Abuja. At the meeting, Yakubu underscored the evolving role of technology in elections, highlighting the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) as a critical tool in streamlining voter authentication and enhancing electoral credibility.
He suggested that in future elections, voters could be accredited using computer-generated slips issued by INEC or downloadable from its website—reducing reliance on physical PVCs. While current PVCs would remain valid for voting, Yakubu noted that expanding identification options could help reduce logistical challenges and eliminate the misuse and monetization of voter cards.
“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,” Yakubu said.
Despite the proposal, Oyekanmi reiterated that the commission cannot act unilaterally, emphasizing that any changes to electoral procedures must be anchored in law.
As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, the debate over modernising voting access is expected to intensify, with stakeholders pushing for reforms that balance inclusivity, legality, and electoral integrity.
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