The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to introduce downloadable Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for eligible voters who have lost or damaged their original cards, as part of efforts to modernise Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections. INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Wednesday while receiving the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, during a courtesy visit to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Amupitan explained that the downloadable PVC option would only be available to voters who had previously collected their physical PVCs but later lost or defaced them. He noted that affected voters must report the issue to INEC at least 90 days before an election to enable the commission process a replacement. According to him, the innovation will be piloted during the Osun State governorship election scheduled for August.
The INEC chairman also revealed that the commission is finalising technology that will allow eligible Nigerians to register as voters entirely online without visiting INEC offices for physical registration. He said the platform would be tested once it receives the commission’s approval, adding that the initiative is designed to make voter registration easier and reduce the risk of disenfranchisement.
Amupitan reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to partnering with the National Orientation Agency to intensify voter education, combat misinformation, discourage vote-buying and address voter apathy before the 2027 elections. He stressed that credible elections depend not only on advanced technology but also on an informed and active electorate.
According to him, while innovations such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) have significantly improved election transparency, fake news and public distrust continue to discourage voter participation. He called for grassroots voter education campaigns that would explain the value of every vote and increase public confidence in the electoral process.
Amupitan said recent off-cycle elections, including the Federal Capital Territory Area Council polls and the Ekiti governorship election, recorded improved operational efficiency but still suffered from low voter turnout and confusion over polling unit transfers. He urged INEC and NOA to begin sustained civic education well ahead of the 2027 general elections to address these challenges.
In his remarks, NOA Director-General Lanre Issa-Onilu commended INEC for improving the credibility of elections and reducing complaints over election outcomes. He pledged the agency’s support for stronger collaboration with INEC through intensified campaigns against vote-buying, electoral violence, misinformation and voter apathy, while promoting greater public participation in Nigeria’s democratic process.
