In order to prevent administrative delays from depriving registered voters of their right to vote before the 2027 general elections, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately release a national schedule for the creation, distribution, and collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
Nigerians who finished the voter registration process should have clear information about when and where they may pick up their PVCs, according to a statement released by the party yesterday in Abuja by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary.
In response to worries over PVC distribution delays, especially in areas of the Northwest, the ADC asked INEC to make sure that no qualified voter was excluded from voting due to administrative or logistical issues.
“Nigerians cannot be registered to vote and then forced to run from office to office looking for the card that allows them to exercise their right.
According to the party, “registration without access to a PVC is disenfranchisement by another route.”
The opposition party demanded that INEC report on the number of newly registered voters, PVCs made, cards issued, outstanding cards, and specified collection centers on a state-by-state basis.
Additionally, it called on the electoral commission to increase public awareness and decentralise PVC collection whenever possible, especially in places where bureaucracy, distance, and poor communication could deter voters from picking up their cards.
The party claimed that INEC had to deal with the matter now rather than waiting until election day due to the impending general elections.
Nigerians shouldn’t have to worry about whether their cards will arrive in time as the general election draws near. This is not a footnote about logistics. It cuts right to the core of the election’s legitimacy,” the statement claimed.
In order to keep an eye on PVC distribution and record complaints from registered voters who have trouble getting their cards, the ADC announced that it would mobilise its structures nationwide.
The party urged INEC to settle lingering concerns in an open and thorough manner and cautioned against a last-minute rush over PVC collection.
“We don’t want an emergency promise, an excuse, or an election-eve rush. INEC now has the chance to settle this issue in an open and thorough manner.
“A citizen whose constitutional voice is at risk of being muted is represented by each PVC that is unreasonably unavailable. ADC stated, “That must not be permitted to occur.”
About the Author
