The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against delays in the production and distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), saying such administrative bottlenecks could disenfranchise registered voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party made the call in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, urging INEC to publish a clear nationwide timetable for the production, distribution and collection of PVCs.
The ADC said registered voters should not be left to struggle to obtain the cards required to exercise their constitutional right to vote.
“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 urged INEC to publish state-by-state figures showing the number of newly registered voters, PVCs produced and distributed, outstanding cards, as well as designated collection centres.
The party also called for stronger public information campaigns and decentralised PVC collection where practicable to make the process easier for voters.
“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 said it would mobilise its structures nationwide to monitor PVC distribution and document complaints from voters who encounter difficulties in accessing their cards.
“We do not want an election-eve scramble, excuses or emergency promises. INEC has the opportunity to resolve this matter now, transparently and comprehensively,” it added.
The ADC further warned that every voter who is unable to obtain a PVC without justification could be denied the opportunity to participate in the election.
“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.