INEC proposes replacing PVCs with downloadable voter cards and seeks power to appoint state electoral heads, ahead of 2027 elections.
INEC Moves to Replace PVCs with Downloadable Voter Cards, Seeks Power to Appoint State Officials
INEC Proposes Replacing PVCs with Downloadable Voter Cards, Seeks Power to Appoint State Electoral Officials Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed a major shake-up to Nigeria’s electoral system including replacing the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) with electronically downloadable voter cards.
The commission also wants constitutional amendments that would strip the President of the power to appoint Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), instead giving that authority to INEC itself.
These proposals were disclosed by Mohammad Kuna, Special Adviser to the INEC Chairman, during a presentation at a retreat in Lagos with the Joint Committee of the National Assembly on Electoral Matters.
Kuna explained that these reforms are designed to strengthen transparency, accountability, and efficiency in Nigeria’s electoral process.
“INEC is proposing to introduce downloadable voter cards to replace the current PVCs,” he said. “We are also seeking to amend existing laws so that the commission can directly appoint the heads of its state offices, who will now be known as State Directors of Elections.”
Currently, Resident Electoral Commissioners appointed by the President oversee the conduct of elections at the state level. They manage logistics, supervise ad hoc staff, and ensure the integrity of results. However, INEC believes these responsibilities should be directly under its internal oversight.
To this end, INEC is proposing changes to:
Section 14 (3), Paragraph F of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution, and
Section 6 (3) of the Electoral Act 2022,
These amendments would enable the commission to appoint and discipline the heads of its state and FCT offices.
Kuna clarified that the proposed State Directors of Elections would take over the functions currently handled by RECs, aligning with a new internal structure aimed at strengthening INEC’s independence.
At present, the 1999 Constitution grants the President the exclusive power to appoint RECs, subject to Senate confirmation, and only the President can remove them a process that requires a two-thirds Senate majority.
INEC’s reform package is part of a broader agenda to prepare for the 2027 elections, with additional proposals for early voting, diaspora participation, and the introduction of digital solutions to streamline voter access and electoral processes.
