The Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee’s (INEC) rebuttal of a report alleging that it plans to get rid of six million unclaimed Everlasting Voters’ Playing cards (PVCs) is important for its vast implications for the free and credible elections that Nigerians want. Among the many salient points arising from the report is tackle voters’ apathy, which constitutes a recurring decimal within the nation’s elections. Moreover, how can the fee assure entry to their playing cards by registered voters? And for the way lengthy ought to INEC maintain unclaimed playing cards?
A report had asserted that the Fee was considering a coverage to withdraw and destroy PVCs that stay uncollected for a decade. This suggestion was allegedly amongst 208 proposals arising from the Fee’s overview of the 2023 common elections.
The report additional claimed that “the low charge of PVC assortment and different associated challenges are illustrative of the issue of processing and managing voters in Nigeria.” Nevertheless, INEC has described the report as “incorrect” and suggested members of the general public to disregard it. The Fee maintained that at no time did it ponder destroying uncollected PVCs.
It’s noteworthy that the declare of a low charge of PVC assortment conflicts with INEC’s knowledge. Earlier than the previous presidential election, INEC introduced that 87,209,007 PVCs had been collected nationwide, whereas the uncollected PVCs stood at 6,259,229 (representing 6.7 per cent of the whole PVCs). Which means that 93.3 per cent of 93,469,008 registered voters collected their voter playing cards.
Though INEC has debunked the veracity of the topic report, the problems offered are weighty; therefore deserving of important interrogation. As an example, how lengthy can INEC maintain election supplies, together with unclaimed voters’ playing cards earlier than disposing of them? Why are Nigerians processing voters’ playing cards solely to lose curiosity in them simply when they’re prepared for assortment? Has this something to do with their confidence or lack of it within the electoral course of? What will be finished about voters’ apathy if so? Extra importantly, ought to PVC stay the one voting instrument?
Some specialists have argued that INEC shouldn’t be saddled with the duty of preserving and retaining uncollected PVCs in perpetuity. For example, the Corporations and Allied Issues Act 2020 (CAMA), mandates company our bodies to retain data saved in pursuance of the provisions of CAMA in mushy copies for six years. Consequently, the proponents submit that the extant Electoral Act needs to be amended to specify particular timelines for the retention and destruction of unclaimed PVCs.
Then again, it’s opined that destroying unclaimed PVCs defeats the target of voter registration. Underneath the present authorized framework, PVC is the singular reliable instrument for voting in Nigeria. Consequently, the destruction of uncollected PCVs would translate to the disenfranchisement of a major variety of the citizens. Whereas the statistical share of uncollected PVCs vis-à-vis collected PVCs might seem negligible contemplating the same old poor voter turnout (solely 26.72 per cent reportedly voted within the 2023 presidential and Nationwide Meeting elections) the variety of unclaimed PVCs (over 6 million) is substantial.
Additional, PVC incorporates delicate data, therefore disposing of it with out first giving the affected voter satisfactory, even additional alternative to gather his card may quantity to a breach of the info safety legal guidelines. As well as, huge (taxpayers’) sources and time had been invested in producing the playing cards, so it will be economically imprudent to discard unclaimed PVCs. It’s endorsed that the window for PVC assortment needs to be open, and will solely be closed a couple of weeks to an election cycle. Registrants ought to be capable to choose up their playing cards anytime and unclaimed playing cards needs to be archived. Merely put, INEC should devise a convenient-card-collection process to encourage registrants.
On the difficulty of voters’ apathy, INEC ought to reveal credibility and transparency within the conduct of its enterprise. It ought to stroll its speak – if it guarantees digital transmission of votes in real-time, then it ought to accomplish that. INEC should sanitise the electoral course of to stimulate public belief. No particular person of fine character wishes to take part in a fraudulent electoral course of. Solely credible elections will entice appreciable participation.
Basically, is the continual use of PVC needed? Is PVC dispensable? Higher nonetheless, ought to PVCs be the one technique of voting? It’s common information that the biometrics knowledge of most Nigerians are already domiciled with the Nationwide Identification Administration Fee, Federal Highway Security Corps, Nigerian Immigration Service, and different related federal companies. Ordinarily, any particular person holding a Nationwide Identification Card, Driver’s Licence, or Worldwide Passport ought to be capable to solid his votes with out PVC.
In the US of America, the voter’s card is the voting instrument, however different technique of identification are equally acceptable. The UK (UK) has the same authorized framework. Till the passing of its Elections Act in 2022, no type of photographic identification was required to vote in England, Wales, and Scotland. Schedule 1 of the Electoral Act lists a wide selection of identification acceptable at polling stations reminiscent of passports issued by the UK; Commonwealth or European Financial Space (EEA) states; drivers’ licences issued by the UK, Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or EEA state; biometric immigration doc issued by the UK; Proof of Age Requirements Scheme hologram card; Ministry of Defence id card; concessionary journey move; and many others.
Given the humongous logistics and personnel prices expended within the voter registration train, INEC should rigorously think about whether or not additional issuance of contemporary PVCs remains to be expedient. The Fee has typically lamented about its inadequate budgetary allocations, and due to this fact, ought to disburse its allotted funds judiciously. It also needs to collaborate with related federal companies concerning knowledge synchronisation. The inter-agency relationship between the Company Affairs Fee and the Federal Inland Income Service concerning firm registration is a basic illustration.
Not solely will utilizing different technique of identification save prices, it will additionally tremendously improve the voting inhabitants. As an example, youngsters, who turn into eligible to vote throughout an election interval however would have been shut out of the registration course of on age grounds, may solid their votes utilizing different identification playing cards. In the identical vein, different Nigerians who dread the disturbing registration and PVC assortment processes will likely be motivated to take part in elections if different technique of identification are permissible.
