KEY POINTS

• The proposed solution by INEC is computer generated slip rather than PVC for voting.
• Early voting, diaspora voting and 142 more electoral reform recommendations.
• With support from NIMC and NPC , INEC intends to clean up the voters’ register.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) should not be the only requirement for voting in future elections.

Prof Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, announced this shift at a quarterly consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja.

BVAS, which improved voter accreditation, is what the commission’s proposal is based on. Using computer generated slips or downloadable voter accreditation documents on INEC’s website, voters without PVCs can now access BVAS, INEC recommends.

Prof Yakubu said this would reduce the cost of PVC production, eliminate complaints of prolonged card collection and also discourage vote-buying of PVCs from voters.

He also assured that those who already have their PVCs can go to the polls and use it while those that don’t can now be accredited using computer generated slips.

142 recommendations to reform Nigeria’s electoral process

Taking on the spot suggested reforms, INEC presented 142 recommendations to reform Nigeria’s electoral system in a review of the general elections in 2023.

Of these, 86 are recommendations internal to the government, while 48 require working with stakeholder partners such as security agencies, political parties, civil society, and telecommunications service providers.

The other eight recommendations on legislative action are from the National Assembly. Among these recommendations are proposals to:
– Set up an electoral offences tribunal.
– Implement the early voting for the essential worker such as journalist, security personnel, election observers.
– Support diaspora voting.
– Create a new agency for regulation of political parties by unbundling INEC.

The plan to clean up the voter register is through collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the National Population Commission (NPC) to improve voter registration.

The aim is to boost voter access, and also ensure better dispersion of polling units nationwide.