ABUJA – The Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) says it’s open to permitting eligible Nigerians to vote with out Everlasting Voter Playing cards (PVCs) within the 2027 normal elections – however provided that the legislation is amended to help the transfer.
Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, made this recognized on Wednesday. He emphasised that whereas the fee is dedicated to increasing voter entry by means of know-how, any change should be aligned with authorized provisions.
This follows feedback made by INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, in December 2024 throughout a gathering with Resident Electoral Commissioners.
Yakubu had instructed that the unique use of PVCs for accreditation needs to be reconsidered.
“The fee additionally believes that with the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), using the Everlasting Voters’ Playing cards as the only real technique of identification for voter accreditation on Election Day needs to be reviewed,” Yakubu stated.
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He famous that voters might, sooner or later, use slips generated by INEC or downloaded from its web site for accreditation a transfer that might minimize prices, ease logistics, and curb voter card-related malpractice.
“Those that have already got the PVCs can nonetheless use them to vote, however going ahead, computer-generated slips issued to the voter and even downloaded from the Fee’s web site will suffice for voter accreditation,” he added.
Oyekanmi clarified that INEC helps the thought, however pressured, “It’s not our stand-alone that’s necessary. Equally essential is what the subsisting legislation says… the legislation must be amended to replicate it.”
The proposal, if handed into legislation, might mark a significant shift in Nigeria’s electoral course of by making voter participation extra accessible and technology-driven.
