Voters whose Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were stolen, damaged, or lost can now access downloadable digital PVCs directly from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), marking a major technological shift aimed at ending months-long waiting periods for physical cards ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Unveiling the initiative during a strategic workshop for news editors on Monday, 5th October 2026, in Abuja, INEC Chairman Professor Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, confirmed that the new downloadable card technology—introduced pursuant to Section 18(1) of the Electoral Act 2026—was successfully tested during recent off-cycle elections to ensure voters were not disenfranchised.
The electoral chief noted that the innovation forms part of broader digital upgrades—including online voter registration and printable PVC options—to ensure that long administrative delays for voter cards become a relic of the past. The revelation comes as the Commission announced that the nationwide physical collection of new PVCs for over 10.6 million newly registered voters will officially launch in four days, on Friday, 9th October 2026.
Setting the operational tone for the workshop, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, emphasized that media engagement stands as a core operational priority for the commission rather than an afterthought. He outlined a three-fold mandate for the media partnership: rebuilding public trust through open two-way dialogue, establishing a 24/7 fact-verification loop between newsrooms and INEC to counter digital fake news and deepfakes, and aligning on ethical gatekeeping to defend the integrity of the ballot box.
Reflecting on the commission’s track record, National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna highlighted that despite taking office under intensive pressure and executing immediate off-cycle elections in Anambra, the Federal Capital Territory, Ekiti, and Osun—alongside monitoring primary elections across all 18 registered political parties—INEC’s operational delivery has improved with each successive exercise. He announced that on Tuesday, marking exactly 100 days to the presidential and legislative elections, the INEC Chairman will lead a global press briefing to present the commission’s comprehensive state of readiness.
Addressing newsroom gatekeepers exactly 101 days before the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for 16th January 2027, Prof. Amupitan outlined key operational milestones and security frameworks for the upcoming polls:
- National Register of Voters Exceeds 103 Million: Following a three-phase Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) drive that captured 10.7 million new applicants, the final Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) cleanup has brought Nigeria’s total active register to over 103 million voters.
- Technological Infrastructure Upgrades: The Commission has acquired 57,000 new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices featuring software hardening and battery optimization, alongside an enhanced eEC8A system for cryptographic result uploading to the public viewing portal (IReV).
- Undercover Financial Tracking at Polling Units: To combat vote-buying, joint financial monitoring teams involving the EFCC, ICPC, and NFIU will deploy undercover personnel to track illegal campaign spending and conduct surveillance at polling units on election day.
- Logistics and Personnel Welfare: To eliminate late arrival of voting materials, early distribution of non-sensitive supplies and operational vehicles has commenced, supported by a 150% increase in State Office operational overheads and a new salary structure for staff.
Prof. Amupitan reaffirmed that the Commission remains strictly non-partisan, emphasizing that operational transparency and rigorous media collaboration are essential to safeguarding public trust and ensuring a peaceful, credible election in 2027.
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