INEC May Allow Voting Without PVCs In 2027 Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it is open to allowing eligible Nigerians without Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to vote in the 2027 general elections. However, the commission made it clear that this would only be possible if the law is changed to support such a move.

Speaking to Punch on Wednesday, Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, said the commission supports the idea of making voting more accessible by using modern technology. Still, he emphasized that the current law must be amended first.

“It is not our stand-alone that is important. Equally critical is what the subsisting law says. While the commission is favourably disposed to the recommendation by stakeholders (that PVCs alone should not be the only criterion for voting at an election), the law needs to be amended to reflect it,” Oyekanmi said.

This discussion came after INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, spoke during a quarterly meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners in December 2024. He talked about how technology—especially the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS)—is improving elections in Nigeria.

Yakubu noted that while PVCs will still be valid for those who have them, future elections might let voters use other options. These could include slips printed by INEC or downloaded from its website.

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

“Those who already have the PVCs can still use them to vote, but going forward, computer-generated slips issued to the voter or even downloaded from the Commission’s website will suffice for voter accreditation. This will not only save cost, but 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,” he added.

INEC believes this approach could reduce expenses, simplify logistics, and help fight the misuse of voter cards. But for any of these changes to take effect, legal backing through legislative amendment is essential.

Send Us A Press Statement Advertise With Us Contact Us

 And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG