The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nigeria has proposed a shift in the use of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) as the sole means of accreditation for voters ahead of the 2027 general elections. This was announced by INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja on Thursday.
According to Yakubu, the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) enables alternative methods for voter accreditation, including computer-generated slips issued to voters or downloadable from the INEC website. He explained that this shift would reduce costs, streamline voter management, and address issues surrounding the collection of PVCs and vote-buying practices.
“Those who already have PVCs can still use them to vote, but going forward, alternatives like computer-generated slips will suffice. This approach eliminates the diabolical practice of buying cards to disenfranchise voters,” Yakubu stated.
The proposed changes are part of broader reforms aimed at modernizing Nigeria’s electoral system, informed by lessons learned from the 2023 general election and subsequent off-cycle polls. Yakubu revealed that INEC has identified 142 recommendations to address key issues in election management, including voter education, logistics, political party oversight, election security, and legal reforms.
INEC plans to present its legislative proposals to relevant committees in the National Assembly to facilitate the implementation of these recommendations.
“With the conclusion of major off-cycle governorship elections and bye-elections since 2023, this is the most appropriate time to commence the implementation of our review findings,” the INEC chairman added.
