By peace Udugba
Acceptable means of identification for voter registration will be limited to the NIN, Nigerian birth certificate, or Nigerian passport,” the proposal noted.
It further seeks to mandate the conclusion of all election-related litigations before the May 29, 2027, handover date.
“These provisions are intended to ensure that all litigations are concluded before swearing-in,” the document stated.
Members of the National Assembly are proposing an amendment to the Electoral Act that would make the use of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) optional during elections.
The Senate and House Committees on Electoral Matters, during a joint hearing on Monday, unveiled the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2025, which contains a proposal to make PVC use optional for voting.
“The use of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) will not be compulsory, since the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) does not recognise the microchip in the PVC,” the proposal seeking to amend Sections 18 and 47 of the 2022 Electoral Act stated.
It added, “Every registered voter will be able to download and print their voter’s card whenever needed. This would eliminate the issue of buying and selling PVCs, along with all related offences. These changes are reflected in Sections 18 and 47 and the deletion of Section 22.”
The amendment also recommends that eligible voters be allowed to cast their ballots using alternative identification documents, including their Nigerian passport, National Identification Number (NIN), or birth certificate, among other accepted forms of ID.
NASS Proposes Amendment to Make PVC Optional for Voting, Allow Use of NIN, Passport
