2027: INEC set to roll out downloadable PVCs, full online voter registration

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to introduce downloadable Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for eligible voters and fully online voter registration as part of reforms aimed at improving the country’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed the development on Wednesday while receiving Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the director-general of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), during a courtesy visit to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

According to Amupitan, the downloadable PVC initiative is designed to assist registered voters whose cards have been lost, damaged or become unreadable, stressing that the option will not be available to first-time registrants.

He explained that only voters who had previously collected their physical PVCs would qualify for the digital replacement.

“It is not every PVC that is downloadable. You must have collected your PVC before, and it must be that the card is lost, defaced or its details can no longer be read,” he said.

The INEC chairman added that affected voters must report the loss or damage at least 90 days before an election to enable the commission process the request.

He revealed that the downloadable PVC system would be tested during the forthcoming Osun State governorship election scheduled for August before wider implementation.

Amupitan also disclosed that the commission was putting the finishing touches to a new online voter registration platform that would allow eligible Nigerians to complete the registration process electronically without visiting INEC offices for physical biometric capture.

According to him, the technology is currently undergoing final preparations and will be tested once it receives the commission’s approval.

He said the reforms are intended to make voter registration easier, reduce barriers to participation and ensure that more eligible Nigerians can exercise their voting rights without unnecessary difficulties.

The INEC chairman noted that the commission remains committed to leveraging technology to improve election management and enhance voter access as preparations for the 2027 polls gather momentum.