The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to withdraw and destroy over six million uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), some of which have been unclaimed since 2015.
This recommendation was among 208 proposals arising from the commission’s post-election review of the 2023 general elections.
INEC highlighted the persistent issue of unclaimed PVCs, stating that retaining the cards unnecessarily clogs the voter management system.
“Consequently, one recommendation from the review was that the commission should consider withdrawing PVCs issued in 2015 since it is not clear if the owners will ever collect them,” the commission stated.
In addition to addressing uncollected PVCs, INEC is exploring modern solutions to streamline Nigeria’s electoral system.
Proposed reforms include phasing out PVCs entirely and introducing diaspora voting.
INEC explained that with the adoption of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), PVCs may no longer be necessary for voter accreditation.
Instead, voters could present computer-generated slips or credentials downloaded from INEC’s website for verification.
