INEC Debunks Claims of Plans to Destroy Uncollected PVCs

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has firmly dismissed circulating claims that it plans to destroy uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

In a statement issued on the 5th of January, 2025, INEC categorically labeled the reports as “false” and urged the public to disregard them.

“Our attention has been drawn to a newspaper report that the Commission is contemplating the destruction of over six million uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) going back to the 2015 voter registration.

“The report is incorrect. At no time did the Commission contemplate the destruction of uncollected PVCs. The public is advised to discountenance the story,” the statement read.

It is worth noting that in December 2024, INEC proposed adopting computer-generated slips for voter accreditation during elections.

This proposal aligns with the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which challenges the reliance on PVCs as the sole method of voter identification on election day.

INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu highlighted that the Commission would soon engage the National Assembly with recommendations for electoral reforms to reflect these advancements.

As of 48 hours before the 2023 presidential election, INEC reported that 87,209,007 PVCs had been collected nationwide, representing an impressive 93.3 percent of the 93,469,008 registered voters. However, 6,259,229 PVCs equating to 6.7 percent remained uncollected.