INEC Considers Major Electoral Reform for 2027 - Nigerians May Vote Without PVCs

 

A potential transformation in Nigeria’s electoral landscape is on the horizon as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) signals readiness to embrace modern technological alternatives to the traditional Permanent Voter Card (PVC) system. The move, if implemented, could open the doors of participation to millions of eligible Nigerians who may not have obtained or collected their PVCs by the time of the next general election in 2027.

Discussions around modernising voter accreditation and easing the burdens associated with PVC collection have gathered momentum following remarks by the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu. At a quarterly consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners held in Abuja in December 2024, Yakubu outlined the commission’s vision for a more technologically inclusive and logistically efficient electoral process.

At the core of this proposed shift lies the growing role of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which has already been used in recent electoral cycles. According to Yakubu, BVAS not only authenticates voters more efficiently but also provides a foundation for alternatives to the PVC as the sole means of accreditation. Among the options under consideration are computer-generated voter slips, either printed by the commission or downloadable by voters directly from INEC’s official website.

That approach, Yakubu said, promises multiple advantages. By minimizing the production and distribution of physical cards, the commission expects to significantly cut electoral costs. Moreover, it would mitigate perennial issues associated with PVC collection, such as delays, voter disenfranchisement, and even electoral fraud related to the illicit buying and hoarding of voter cards.

PVCs, though still valid and usable by those who already possess them, would no longer be the exclusive passport to participate in elections under this envisioned framework.

While these innovations are generating optimism about the prospects of more accessible elections, a critical hurdle remains. Legal constraints presently bind the commission’s hands, as the current electoral framework recognizes only PVCs as valid accreditation tools. The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, clarified this point during an exclusive conversation with The PUNCH on Wednesday, reaffirming that any shift in voting methodology must be matched by a corresponding amendment to the existing electoral laws.

Oyekanmi emphasized the commission’s openness to stakeholder suggestions and confirmed that INEC shares the sentiment that the PVC should not remain the only gateway to voter participation. Yet, as he carefully pointed out, the law is not something the commission can unilaterally revise.

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

The legal limitations stem from the Electoral Act, which defines the requirements for voter accreditation and the instruments to be used on election day. Under the current statute, only a valid PVC entitles a registered voter to cast a ballot. Introducing alternative forms of identification, no matter how technically feasible or cost-effective, would constitute a deviation from the statutory provisions and therefore require formal legislative approval.

This development is rekindling calls for a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s electoral laws to make them more adaptable to emerging realities. Observers say that with digital infrastructure increasingly embedded in national governance and administration, the electoral process should not be left behind.

Civil society organisations and election observers have also weighed in, largely in favour of reforms that prioritise voter convenience and transparency. According to analysts, the collection rate of PVCs during the last election cycle was below optimal, with millions of cards remaining uncollected across the country despite repeated extension of collection deadlines and public sensitisation campaigns.

Experts argue that offering voters the option to download slips or receive electronic accreditation notices would dramatically increase access, particularly for internally displaced persons, rural dwellers, and those caught in the crossfires of urban migration.

The challenges of managing a voter database of over 90 million individuals are not lost on the commission. The logistics of printing and distributing physical cards, coupled with voter apathy and administrative bottlenecks, have created a cycle of disenfranchisement that electoral reformists believe must be broken.

Professor Yakubu’s comments also took aim at the “diabolical” practice of political actors buying PVCs from registered voters to influence or suppress electoral outcomes. Eliminating physical cards or reducing their significance could thwart such underhanded tactics by removing the incentive altogether.

A potential reconfiguration of the system could shift voter authentication towards real-time biometric verification and QR-code-based identification—both features compatible with BVAS and increasingly used in countries with digital-first electoral systems.

However, realising these changes is contingent on political will. The National Assembly would need to amend relevant portions of the Electoral Act, a process that requires bipartisan consensus and stakeholder engagement. With 2027 fast approaching, reform advocates are urging lawmakers to begin the process now, to ensure ample time for public education, legal adjustments, and technological readiness.

As of now, no official bill proposing the said amendments has been tabled in the legislature. But insiders hint that preliminary consultations are underway between INEC officials and key legislative committees on electoral matters. Should the talks prove fruitful, Nigeria could find itself on a new path—one where technology bridges the gap between democratic ideals and practical reality.

Until then, the status quo remains. Voters preparing for the 2027 polls are still advised to register and collect their PVCs, even as the promise of a less cumbersome future glimmers on the horizon.

With stakeholders watching closely and momentum building for electoral innovation, the coming months could define the shape of democracy in Africa’s most populous nation—not just by who votes, but by how they vote.