Ahead of future elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission has proposed the adoption of computer-generated voting slips for voters without Permanent Voter Cards.
This recommendation was made on Thursday by INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, during the quarterly consultative meeting with Residents Electoral Commissioners in Abuja.
Prof. Yakubu emphasised that PVCs should no longer be the sole requirement for voting, citing the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System as a game-changer.
“The Commission also believes that with the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, the use of the Permanent Voters’ Cards as the sole means of identification for voter accreditation on Election Day should be reviewed. Those who already have the PVCs can still use them to vote, but going forward, computer-generated slips issued to the voter or even downloaded from the Commission’s website will suffice for voter accreditation. This will not only save costs; it will also eliminate the issues around the collection of PVCs and the diabolical practice of buying up the cards from voters in order to disenfranchise them,” he stated.
The Chairman highlighted that the proposal is part of a broader set of reforms emerging from INEC’s comprehensive review of the 2023 general election, documented in a 524-page report. Following consultations with officials and stakeholders, INEC has identified 142 recommendations addressing various aspects of the electoral process, including voter management, education, public communication, and election logistics.
“Out of the 142 recommendations, 86 require administrative action by the Commission. This is followed by 48 recommendations that require action by a variety of stakeholders, including security agencies, mobile network operators, statutory bodies, political parties, transport unions, civil society organisations, and the media. On the legal review, there are eight recommendations that require legislative actions by the National Assembly. Very soon, the Commission will make a presentation to the Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Electoral Matters as they continue to deliberate on electoral reform,” Yakubu explained.
One key recommendation focuses on clarifying result management, particularly the distinction between manual transfer and electronic transmission of results. Other proposals include introducing early voting for essential workers such as journalists, security personnel, and election officials deployed outside their registered areas during elections.
“The review report also contains recommendations on early/special voting for the millions of Nigerians who do not vote at the moment on account of the roles they play during elections,” Yakubu said.
INEC is also advocating for diaspora voting, the establishment of an electoral offences tribunal, and a separate agency to manage the registration and regulation of political parties. The Commission plans to intensify efforts to improve voter access to polling units and address voter registration challenges by collaborating with agencies such as the National Identity Management Commission and the National Population Commission.
Prof. Yakubu noted that other reforms would include measures to ensure greater participation of under-represented groups through affirmative action, enhanced voter education, and public communication to counter fake news and misinformation. He added that INEC would improve its agreements with transport unions and other service providers to consolidate recent successes, such as the early deployment during the Ondo State Governorship election.
“Furthermore, the Commission intends to review the mechanisms for a more effective implementation of agreements on logistics with the transport unions and other service providers by consolidating on the recent experience with early deployment and commencement of elections in the recent Ondo State Governorship election,” Yakubu added.
