INEC to introduce downloadable PVCs, full online voter registration ahead of 2027

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is set to introduce downloadable Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for eligible voters who have lost or damaged their original cards as part of efforts to modernise Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of the 2027 general election.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Wednesday while receiving the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, during a courtesy visit to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Amupitan explained that the downloadable PVC initiative would only apply to voters who had previously collected their physical voter cards but later lost them, had them defaced, or could no longer read the details on them.
“It is not every PVC that is downloadable. You must have gotten your PVC before and it must be that the PVC is lost, defaced or if you cannot read your numbers there,” he said.
He added that affected voters would be required to officially report the loss or damage at least 90 days before an election to enable the commission process a replacement.
According to the INEC chairman, the commission plans to pilot the downloadable PVC technology during the Osun State off-cycle governorship election scheduled for August.
Amupitan also announced that INEC is finalising technology that will allow eligible Nigerians to complete the entire voter registration process online without visiting registration centres for physical biometric capture.
“We have also been working on the technology that is going to make it possible for the registration of voters online without even having to visit INEC local government or registration areas. So hopefully in the next few days, we will be testing it as soon as the commission approves it,” he said.
He noted that the innovations are aimed at making voter registration more accessible, reducing barriers to participation, and ensuring that all eligible Nigerians can register and exercise their voting rights without unnecessary difficulties.
The planned reforms form part of INEC’s preparations to improve electoral processes and expand voter access ahead of the 2027 general elections.