The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to introduce downloadable Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for Nigerians whose original cards have been lost, damaged or become unreadable.
The commission said the initiative forms part of a broader effort to modernise Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of the 2027 general elections and improve access to voting services for eligible citizens.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash ojo Amupitan, disclosed the development 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.
According to Amupitan, the digital PVC option is designed specifically for voters who have previously collected their voter cards but can no longer use them due to loss, damage or other issues affecting the card’s readability.
He clarified that the initiative will not apply to first-time registrants who have never been issued a physical PVC.
“It is not every PVC that is downloadable. You must have gotten your PVC before and it must be that the PVC is lost, defaced or if you cannot read your numbers there,” he said.
The INEC chairman explained that affected voters would be required to submit a formal complaint to the commission before a replacement can be processed. He added that such complaints must be made at least 90 days before an election.
According to him, the commission intends to test the downloadable PVC technology during the upcoming off-cycle governorship election in Osun State scheduled for August.
Amupitan revealed that the commission is in the final stages of creating a platform that would allow eligible citizens to complete voter registration online without the need to visit INEC offices or registration centers for physical biometric capture.
“We have also been working on the technology that is going to make it possible for the registration of voters online without even having to visit INEC local government or registration areas,” he said.
“So hopefully in the next few days, we will be testing it as soon as the commission approves it.”
He noted that the proposed innovations are aimed at making the electoral process more accessible and reducing barriers that prevent citizens from exercising their democratic rights.
According to the INEC chairman, the commission wants to ensure that no eligible Nigerian feels excluded from the electoral process because of logistical challenges associated with voter registration or PVC replacement.
The planned reforms come as preparations gradually begin for the 2027 general elections, with INEC increasingly turning to technology to improve voter participation, enhance efficiency and strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
If successfully implemented, the downloadable PVC system and fully online voter registration platform could mark some of the most significant technological changes introduced into Nigeria’s electoral process in recent years.
