 has proposed a change to Nigeria’s electoral process, suggesting that the use of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) will no longer be mandatory for future elections.){kind=link}
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed a change to Nigeria’s electoral process, suggesting that the use of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) will no longer be mandatory for future elections.
At a quarterly consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja on Thursday, INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu revealed that computer-generated voting slips could replace PVCs as the primary method for voter accreditation.
He emphasized that PVCs should not be the only means of identifying voters.
Yakubu explained that the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) could simplify the voting process and make it more efficient.
He added that with the completion of the recent off-cycle elections and the 2023 general elections, now is the ideal time to implement changes based on the review of the previous elections.
He stated, “With the BVAS in place, using PVCs as the sole method of voter identification should be reconsidered. Voters can still use their PVCs if they have them, but in the future, computer-generated slips, or those downloaded from the Commission’s website, will be sufficient for accreditation.”
This proposed change, Yakubu noted, would not only reduce costs but also address challenges related to PVC distribution and curb the unlawful practice of buying PVCs to disenfranchise voters.