The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed removing the Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) as the sole requirement for voting in future elections. This suggestion was made by INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, during the quarterly consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) held in Abuja on Thursday.

Prof. Yakubu explained that the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) provides an opportunity to streamline the voting process. He stated, “The Commission also believes that with the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the use of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC) as the sole means of identification for voter accreditation on Election Day should be reviewed.”

While voters with PVCs will still be allowed to use them, Yakubu highlighted that computer-generated voting slips, which can be issued to voters or downloaded from INEC’s website, could serve as a viable alternative. He emphasized that this change could reduce costs and curb issues like the hoarding or buying of PVCs to disenfranchise voters.

The proposal comes as INEC begins implementing recommendations from its review of the 2023 general elections. Yakubu revealed that the Commission has identified 142 recommendations for improving the electoral process, covering areas such as voter education, logistics, election technology, and result management. Of these, 86 recommendations require administrative action by INEC, while others call for collaboration with stakeholders, including security agencies, political parties, and the National Assembly.

Yakubu also addressed the need for legislative clarity on the use of manual versus electronic result transmission and proposed reforms such as early voting for journalists and other essential election workers. Additionally, he advocated for diaspora voting and the establishment of a separate tribunal to handle electoral offenses.

Other reforms include updating the voters’ register in collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the National Population Commission (NPC) and enhancing voter education to counter misinformation. INEC also aims to improve agreements with transport unions for better election logistics, drawing lessons from recent elections.

Prof. Yakubu reiterated INEC’s commitment to making the electoral process more inclusive, with measures to support under-represented groups and improve voter access to polling units. “We believe these steps will significantly enhance the democratic process in Nigeria,” he added.