In a bold move ahead of the 2027 general elections, Nigeria’s electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has proposed allowing citizens to vote without Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) — a shift aimed at curbing electoral fraud and making the process more inclusive.
INEC plans to legalize the use of computer-generated voter slips, either printed by the commission or downloaded from its website, as an alternative to PVCs. This would be verified through the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which ensures proper identification and reduces the chances of impersonation or vote-buying.
According to INEC, this reform will help eliminate the widespread malpractice of hoarding or buying PVCs to suppress votes. The commission called such acts “diabolical” and said moving beyond PVCs would enhance voter participation.
