2027 Elections: ADC Pressures INEC Over PVC Distribution, Demands State-by-State Data
2027 Elections: ADC Pressures INEC Over PVC Distribution, Demands State-by-State Data
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has intensified pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards, demanding greater transparency to ensure that administrative and logistical challenges do not prevent registered Nigerians from voting in the 2027 general elections.
The opposition party wants the electoral commission to publish a comprehensive nationwide timetable detailing when and where newly registered voters will be able to collect their PVCs.
The demand comes amid concerns about delays in the availability of voter cards, particularly in parts of the North-west.
ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said Nigerians who successfully completed the voter registration process should not be left uncertain about whether they would receive their cards before the elections.
The party argued that registering citizens without ensuring timely access to the cards required for voting could effectively create another obstacle to electoral participation.
ADC consequently challenged INEC to release state-by-state figures showing the number of newly registered voters, PVCs already produced, cards distributed, outstanding PVCs and designated collection centres.
Such disclosure, the party maintained, would allow Nigerians, political parties and election observers to independently assess the progress being made by the commission ahead of the polls.
The opposition party also called for the decentralisation of PVC collection wherever practicable, warning that long distances to collection centres, bureaucracy and inadequate information could discourage registered voters from obtaining their cards.
The controversy is emerging at a critical stage in preparations for the 2027 elections.
INEC’s Continuous Voter Registration portal currently indicates that the registration exercise has ended and advises participants to await completion of administrative processes and monitor official channels for updates. Registered voters can still check their PVC status and collection centres through the commission’s platform.
The development makes the production and distribution of voter cards one of the issues likely to attract increasing scrutiny as the elections approach.
ADC warned that INEC should avoid a situation in which unresolved PVC issues trigger a last-minute rush shortly before voting begins.
According to the party, the credibility of the electoral process will depend not only on what happens at polling units on election day but also on whether eligible Nigerians are given a reasonable opportunity to obtain the documents necessary to participate.
ADC disclosed that it would mobilise its structures across the country to monitor the PVC distribution process and document complaints from registered voters encountering difficulties collecting their cards.
The move could place additional public pressure on INEC to provide regular and verifiable information about the number of cards produced, distributed and awaiting collection.
INEC, meanwhile, has been strengthening its operational preparations for 2027.
The commission recently announced plans for a real-time election readiness tracker designed to give its leadership greater visibility into preparations across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The initiative is expected to monitor areas including logistics, electoral technology, voter registration and other operational requirements.
For ADC, however, technological and administrative preparations must ultimately translate into unhindered access to voting for eligible Nigerians.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, the emerging PVC controversy could become an important test of INEC’s ability to demonstrate transparency, logistical preparedness and equal access to the electoral process.
The fundamental question is no longer simply how many Nigerians have registered to vote, but whether every eligible registered voter will have a fair opportunity to exercise that right when the polls open.
