Reforms: BVAS replaces PVCs as sole voting requirement – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a major electoral reform, stating that Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will no longer be the sole means of voter identification during elections.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this known on Thursday in Abuja during the quarterly consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs). The meeting focused on reforms and planning, drawing from lessons learned in the 2023 general elections.

“While those who already have their PVCs can still use them to vote, going forward, computer-generated slips issued to voters or even those downloaded from the Commission’s website will suffice for voter accreditation,” Yakubu revealed.

The INEC Chairman explained that the shift aims to reduce costs and curb the malpractice of buying PVCs to disenfranchise voters. “This reform eliminates the issues surrounding PVC collection and prevents the diabolical practice of purchasing cards to manipulate election outcomes,” he added.

Prof. Yakubu disclosed that the Commission has reviewed 142 recommendations from stakeholders on improving electoral processes. Of these, 86 require administrative actions by INEC, while others involve various stakeholders, including security agencies, political parties, and civil society groups.

“The recommendations also include eight requiring legislative action by the National Assembly. The Commission will soon present these to the Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Electoral Matters as part of ongoing electoral reforms,” he stated.

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Key Areas of Reform

INEC highlighted several focus areas for reform:

Result Transmission Clarity: Legal clarity on manual versus electronic result transmission.

Special Voting: Allowing early voting for INEC officials, security personnel, journalists, and others on election duty.

Diaspora Voting: Advocacy for Nigerians abroad to participate in elections.

Electoral Offences Tribunal: Establishing a separate tribunal and agency for managing electoral offences.

Cleaning the Voter Register: Collaborating with agencies like the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the National Population Commission (NPC) to ensure accuracy.

Prof. Yakubu stressed the need for more inclusive voter education, particularly for under-represented groups. He also called for robust measures to combat misinformation during elections and improvements in logistics agreements with transport unions.

With these reforms, INEC aims to enhance the credibility and efficiency of Nigeria’s electoral system. Prof. Yakubu concluded by expressing the Commission’s commitment to implementing the recommendations and ensuring better electoral experiences for all Nigerians.

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