Despite informed counsel that what it needs is attitudinal change rather than technological adaptation, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recommends altering the current system of voter accreditation for the 2027 elections.
The proposal focuses on expanding options beyond the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) by allowing computer-generated slips or downloadable credentials from INEC’s website to verify voters on Election Day.
The Election Management Body insists that this suggestion follows lessons learned from the 2023 general election and subsequent polls. INEC hopes to reduce costs and prevent the manipulation of PVCs, a common tactic used to disenfranchise voters.
The change could also streamline the accreditation process, making it easier for citizens to vote.
Meanwhile, observers of the Nigerian electoral system advise that what both politicians and INEC officials required was deliberate attitudinal change or character reformation to enable actors to subordinate themselves to the rule and laws governing the game.
INEC plans to present its recommendations to the Nigerian Senate and House of Representatives in the coming months as part of broader efforts to reform the country’s electoral system.
The commission has outlined numerous areas for improvement, including voter management, election security, and the use of technology in voting.
