INEC considers computer slips for accreditation on election day

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is to review the use of Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) as the sole means of identification for voter accreditation on election day.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this at the commission’s meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and unveiling of the hardcopies Election Report, and the Review Report on the 2023 general election in Abuja on Thursday, December 12, 2024.

Yakubu said the intention for the review followed some of the recommendations contained in the review reports.

He said INEC believed that with the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the use of the PVC, as the sole means of identification for voter accreditation on election day, should be reviewed.

The INEC boss stated: “Those who already have the PVCs can still use them to vote, but going forward, computer-generated slips issued to the voter or even downloaded from the commission’s website will suffice for voter accreditation.

“This will not only save cost, it will also eliminate the issues around the collection of PVCs and the diabolical practice of buying up the cards from voters, in order to disenfranchise them.”

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Yakubu said having released its 524-page main report on the election, INEC had wide internal consultation with its officials and externally, with all major stakeholders.

Yakubu noted that from the internal and external engagements, INEC identified 142 recommendations dealing with various aspects of an election, out of which 86 required administrative action by the electoral umpire.

He added: “This is followed by 48 recommendations that require action by a variety of stakeholders, including security agencies, mobile network operators, statutory bodies, political parties, transport unions, civil society organisations, and the media.

“On the legal review, there are eight recommendations that require legislative action by the National Assembly. Very soon, the commission will make a presentation to the Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Electoral Matters, as they continue to deliberate on electoral reform.

“Among the major highlights of the commission’s recommendations is the imperative of legal clarity in result management, with regard to manual transfer versus the electronic transmission of results.”

The Star