The African Democratic Congress has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission against delays in the production and distribution of Permanent Voter Cards, saying such administrative bottlenecks could disenfranchise registered voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party, in a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, specifically raised concerns over delays affecting voters in the North-West and urged INEC to immediately publish a clear nationwide timetable for the production, distribution and collection of PVCs.
The ADC said Nigerians who had successfully completed the registration process should not be left uncertain about when and where their voter cards would be available.
“You cannot register Nigerians to vote and then make them run from office to office searching for the card that enables them to exercise that right. Registration without access to a PVC is disenfranchisement by another route,” the party said.
It called on INEC to publish, on a state-by-state basis, the number of newly registered voters, PVCs produced, cards already distributed, outstanding cards and designated collection centres.
According to the party, such disclosure would enable registered voters, political parties and other stakeholders to ascertain the progress of the PVC distribution exercise and identify areas where delays persist.
The ADC also urged the electoral commission to intensify public information campaigns and decentralise PVC collection wherever practicable, arguing that distance, bureaucracy and poor communication should not prevent eligible Nigerians from collecting their cards.
The party said the issue had become particularly important with the 2027 general elections approaching, warning that voters should not be left uncertain about whether their PVCs would be available before election day.
“With the general election approaching, Nigerians should not be left wondering whether their cards will arrive in time. This is not a logistical footnote. It goes to the heart of the credibility of the election itself,” the ADC said.
The party further announced plans to mobilise its structures nationwide to monitor PVC distribution and document complaints from registered voters who are unable to obtain their cards.
It warned INEC against allowing the process to degenerate into an election-eve rush, saying the commission still had an opportunity to address outstanding challenges transparently and comprehensively.
“We do not want an election-eve scramble, excuses or emergency promises. INEC has the opportunity to resolve this matter now, transparently and comprehensively,” the party said.
The ADC added that every registered voter unable to access a PVC could potentially be denied the opportunity to exercise their constitutional right to vote.
“Every PVC that remains unnecessarily unavailable represents a citizen whose constitutional voice is at risk of being silenced. That must not be allowed to happen,” the party said.
