The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently publish a nationwide timetable for the production, distribution and collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), warning that administrative delays must not disenfranchise registered voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party, in a statement yesterday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said Nigerians who completed the voter registration exercise deserved clear information on when and where they could collect their PVCs.
The ADC was reacting to concerns over delays in the distribution of PVCs, particularly in parts of the Northwest, and urged INEC to ensure that no eligible voter was denied the opportunity to participate in the elections because of logistical or administrative failures.
“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.
The opposition party called on INEC to publish, on a state-by-state basis, the number of newly registered voters, PVCs produced, cards distributed, outstanding cards and designated collection centres.
It also urged the electoral commission to intensify public enlightenment and decentralise PVC collection where practicable, particularly in areas where distance, bureaucracy and inadequate communication could discourage voters from collecting their cards.
The party said the approaching general elections made it imperative for INEC to address the issue early rather than wait until the eve of the polls.
“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 statement said.
The ADC said it would mobilise its structures across the country to monitor PVC distribution and document complaints from registered voters who encounter difficulties in obtaining their cards.
The party warned against a last-minute scramble over PVC collection, urging INEC to resolve outstanding issues 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.
“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,” ADC said.
