The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed readiness to allow eligible Nigerians without Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to vote in the 2027 general elections, provided the necessary legislative amendments are made. INEC’s Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, told journalists on Wednesday that while the commission is committed to enhancing voter access through technology, any shift from the PVC-only system requires updates to existing legal provisions.
The proposal stems from remarks by INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, during a December 2024 quarterly meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners in Abuja. Yakubu emphasized the role of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in streamlining elections and suggested that future elections could allow voters to use computer-generated slips issued by INEC or downloaded from its official website for accreditation. He noted that PVCs would remain valid for those who have them, but the new approach could reduce costs, simplify logistics, and prevent voter disenfranchisement through the illegal purchase of PVCs.
“The commission believes that with BVAS, the use of PVCs as the sole means of voter identification on Election Day should be reviewed,” Yakubu said. “Computer-generated slips or those downloaded from our website will suffice for accreditation. This will save costs, eliminate collection issues, and curb the diabolical practice of buying voter cards to disenfranchise voters.”
In an update on Wednesday, Oyekanmi clarified that implementing such changes depends on legislative backing. “While the commission supports stakeholders’ recommendations that PVCs should not be the only criterion for voting, the law needs to be amended to reflect this,” he stated. INEC’s stance highlights its push for electoral reforms to enhance inclusivity while underscoring the need for legal alignment to ensure a smooth transition.