The independent national electoral commission has expressed willingness to allow eligible Nigerians without permanent voter cards to vote in the 2027 general elections, but insists that such a move must be backed by legislative amendments.
The chief press secretary to the INEC chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, told reporters on Wednesday that the commission was committed to expanding voter access through technology, but emphasized that legal provision must first be updated to accommodate any shift from the current PVC-only system.
The initiative followed remarks by INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, in December 2024 during a quarterly consultative meeting with resident electoral commissioners in Abuja. Yakubu highlighted the growing role of technology, particularly the bimodal voter accreditation system, in streamlining the electoral process.
He noted that while PVCS will remain valid for those who possess them, future elections could allow voters to use slips generated by INEC or downloaded from its official website for accreditation.