The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says stockpiling Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will not undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
The commission also assured Nigerians that every valid vote would count. It pledged to conduct free and fair elections that reflect the will of the people.
INEC dismisses PVC hoarding
The Head of Voter Education and Publicity for INEC in Kwara State, Dr. Adejumo Peter, gave the assurance during a seminar organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ilorin.
Peter said politicians who still collect and store PVCs rely on outdated tactics. According to him, INEC has introduced measures that prevent people from using another person’s PVC to vote. He said those safeguards have made the old practice ineffective.
“Many of the politicians are still living in the past as stocking and carting away PVCs cannot ensure electoral victory,” he said.
Peter added that some politicians had instead turned to vote-buying.
Commission promises credible polls
Peter assured residents of Kwara State that the commission would strictly follow its electoral guidelines during the 2027 general elections. He said INEC would conduct the exercise on the principle of one person, one vote.
“At the end of the exercise, the outcome of the elections will reflect the will of the people,” he said.
Peter urged politicians to obey electoral rules and focus on presenting their manifestos to voters. He also advised them to avoid violence before, during and after the elections. In addition, he urged them to accept the outcome of the polls.
Electoral Act 2026 introduces reforms
Also speaking at the seminar, the Head of INEC’s Legal Unit in Kwara State, Atata Abdulfatai, described the amended Electoral Act 2026 as a major step in strengthening Nigeria’s electoral system.
He said the law introduced reforms to improve transparency, strengthen internal party democracy and expand the use of technology in elections.
Abdulfatai, however, noted that the law also raises important legal and practical issues. According to him, these include constitutional consistency, enforcement of campaign finance limits, judicial jurisdiction over party affairs and the grounds for election petitions.
He said the success of the reforms would depend on effective implementation. Strong institutions and sound judicial interpretation would also play a key role as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
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