INEC Proposes Legal Backing for Voting Without PVCs

 In the event that the current electoral laws are changed to permit it, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated its willingness to permit eligible Nigerians without Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to cast ballots in the general elections of 2027.

In an interview, Rotimi Oyekanmi, the INEC chairman's chief press secretary, reaffirmed the commission's stance. He noted that while the electoral body is open to expanding voter access through the use of technology, it cannot proceed without legal backing.

According to Oyekanmi, "it is not our stand-alone that is important"." What the existing law states is equally important. Although the commission agrees with the stakeholders' suggestion that PVCs shouldn't be the sole requirement for casting a ballot in an election, the law must be changed to reflect this.

This development follows comments made by Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of INEC, at a quarterly consultative meeting with resident electoral commissioners in December 2024. Yakubu stated that in order to increase effectiveness and lower electoral fraud, the commission was looking into alternatives to PVCs.

According to Yakubu, "The commission also believes that the use of the Permanent Voters' Cards as the sole means of identification for voter accreditation on Election Day should be reviewed with the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System."

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Voter accreditation will now only require computer-generated slips that are given to voters or even downloaded from the commission's website, though those who currently possess PVCs can still use them to cast their ballots. In addition to saving money, this will also get rid of the problems with PVC collection and the evil practice of purchasing voter cards to deny them the right to vote," he continued.

Election stakeholders and reformers have begun discussing INEC's proposal, with many viewing it as a step toward a more technologically sophisticated and inclusive electoral process. Oyekanmi did stress, though, that any major procedural change must adhere to the current legal framework.