News
INEC to destroy over six million uncollected PVCs
The Independent National Electoral Commission is contemplating a policy to withdraw and destroy Permanent Voter Cards that remain uncollected for a decade, The PUNCH has learnt.
This recommendation was among 208 proposals arising from the commission’s review of the 2023 general elections.
The move stemmed from the persistent issue of unclaimed PVCs, with over six million cards still uncollected as of the 2023 elections, including many issued as far back as 2015.
Stakeholders in the post-election review recommended that INEC address the backlog of uncollected PVCs by implementing a policy to withdraw PVCs that remain uncollected for extended periods, starting with cards issued in 2015.
The rationale is that these cards are unlikely to be claimed, and their retention clogs the voter management system.
“Following the publication of the Register of Voters, the commission made available the PVCs for collection by voters on December 12, 2022. The exercise was initially planned to end on the 22nd of January 2023. However, the fact that a huge number of registered voters had yet to collect their PVCs forced the commission to extend the deadline to the 5th of February 2023 after devolving the collection to the ward level between January 6-15, 2023 to ease the process.
“The low rate of PVC collection and other related challenges are illustrative of the problem of processing and managing voters in Nigeria. To increase the rate of collection of PVCs, the commission implemented a policy that made it possible for voters to locate their PVCs online and subsequently pick them up. Several CSOs supported the commission’s drive to increase PVC collection by working with INEC’s state/FCT Offices to record all uncollected PVCs and to inform their owners where and how to collect them.
“With support from the development partners, some of the CSOs also created information centres in selected states and the FCT to assist voters locate and collect their PVCs. Despite these efforts, over six million PVCs remained uncollected, many of them dating back to 2015.
Consequently, one recommendation from the review was that the commission should consider withdrawing PVCs issued in 2015 since it is not clear if the owners will ever collect them,” INEC said.
Also, the commission proposed plans to modernise Nigeria’s electoral process, including the gradual phase-out of PVCs and the introduction of diaspora voting.
It was explained that with the adoption of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, PVCs may no longer be necessary for voter accreditation. Instead, voters could use computer-generated slips or credentials downloaded from the commission’s website.
“Unlike the SCR, the voters’ register is now resident in the BVAS. The new device does not read and extract voters’ details from the PVC. Moreover, the Electoral Act 2022 has made biometric accreditation (fingerprint or facial) mandatory for voting.
“The utility of the PVC is now limited to voter identification. It is therefore possible to identify voters using their registration slips which obviates the need for PVCs, the cost of producing them, the logistics for their distribution and the fact that voters without them are unable to vote, thus raising serious issues of disenfranchisement.
With the BVAS, voters can be identified using their registration slips otherwise known as the Temporary Voter’s Card and accredited biometrically without the need for a plastic PVC.
“However, such a step requires the amendment of Section 47(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 which makes the presentation of the card (PVC) to the PO at the PU mandatory before accreditation and voting,” the recommendation said.
Political parties divided
Political parties in the country hold differing opinions about INEC’s plan to destroy uncollected PVCs.
In an interview with The PUNCH, the National Legal Adviser of the Labour Party, Kehinde Edun, believed that the initiative was in order, stressing that there was a need to declutter the voters register, especially if it is confirmed that many of those registered have died.
He said, “I am sure most of those uncollected PVCs must have been as a result of irregularities in the process of registration and all that. If truly people register to vote and register as eligible electorate, they must have collected over a long period, after being given enough time.
“But I believe no system is perfect. So I think destroying them may be in order. If people have not collected over a long period, there is a likelihood those lapses were the result of some irregularities in the process of registration.”
But the Peoples Democratic Party raised a concern that destroying uncollected PVCs could be another ploy by INEC to distract Nigerians.
The PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, who spoke to The PUNCH, said INEC had given Nigerians enough reasons to be suspicious.
He asserted that people refused to collect the PVCs because they had lost faith in INEC to make their votes count during elections.
Osadolor said, “How do you contemplate destroying cards produced with billions of taxpayers’ money because INEC has failed the credibility and integrity test that has made millions of Nigerians lose faith in the commission’s ability to organise free, fair and credible elections?
“I urge INEC to, as a matter of immediate action, begin an image laundering and rebranding campaign to convince Nigerians and stakeholders that the commission is ready to be truly independent in spelling, actions and character.”
Also, the New Nigeria People’s Party advised INEC to reconsider the plan to destroy PVCs.
The National Publicity Secretary of the NNPP, Ladipo Johnson, said destroying over six million voter cards would amount to sheer waste of money.
He said, “If people register and haven’t come to collect over a long period of time unless they know those people have passed on, I think the cards should not be destroyed as long as they are in safekeeping.
“If you destroy about six million PVCs, and all of a sudden, some of the owners show up and want to vote, it will cost God-knows-how-much to register them again. It’s a waste of money.”
SANs back INEC
However, some Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who spoke to The PUNCH backed INEC to destroy the uncollected PVCs, asserting that there are no legal impediments.
A former Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), said some of the uncollected PVCs were likely products of double registration.
“They (uncollected PVCs) are taking space. My suspicion is that the owners don’t exist. It is double fraudulent registration by a lot of people. Just as I am sure that we are not up to 200 million neither do I believe that we are up to 90 million registered voters when only 20 percent of that is always voting. There is a lot of fake information and fake facts in this country and I’m sure this is part of it. So, let them destroy the uncollected PVCs,” he said.
Sharing a similar view, another SAN, Sam Erugo, said, “The PVCs have been uncollected over time, so I don’t see anything wrong in them destroying them because not collecting them means something is definitely wrong with the owners. Either they are dead or they are duplication. Now, that brings the question whether eligible voters have voters card or that will will impede their right to vote or not.
That is a different question altogether but if they have uncollected voter cards, of course, they have a right to destroy them because that will help stop people from using them to rig elections. Given that they are uncollected, they are useless already and money has been wasted already.”
But Paul Obi (SAN) differed, calling for greater awareness instea of rushing to destroy the PVCs.
“What is the basis for destroying six million voters cards?” he queries. “Even if they are uncollected, they belong to Nigerians who are also supposed to use them in the next election and they spent money in producing them.
“I think greater awareness should be created for people who own those PVCs to collect them. It doesn’t make sense spending money and next time they will still have to produce PVCs for those people who own them. More awareness should be done for collection,” he said.
Credit: PUNCH
MINNA, Niger State — An engine oil seller in Minna, the Niger State capital, has reportedly sustained serious injuries after allegedly being shot during a police operation to disperse protesters.
The victim, identified as Ibrahim Mohammed Dada, was reportedly standing outside his shop at Tunga Market when he was struck by a bullet.
Ibrahim’s brother, Yakubu Dada Mohammed, said the victim was not part of the protest and was attending to customers at his engine oil stall when the incident occurred.
According to him, Ibrahim was simply trying to earn a living and support his family when a police officer allegedly fired a shot that hit him in the head and severely injured his face.
«“He was not among those protesting. He was standing in front of his shop selling engine oil when one of the police officers fired a bullet that struck his head and badly injured his face,” Yakubu said.»
Ibrahim is currently receiving treatment at Minna General Hospital, where his condition was reportedly described as critical.
The incident occurred amid protests in Minna over the reported deaths of 37 miners who were allegedly in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Reports indicate that 65 miners were arrested on September 15 and 16, with 37 subsequently reported dead while in security custody.
The protests, which began on Thursday, continued into Friday as security personnel moved to disperse demonstrators. Security forces were reportedly accused of using tear gas and live ammunition during the operation.
However, the circumstances surrounding Ibrahim’s shooting have not been independently established.
The Niger State Police Command spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, appealed for calm and said the incident would be investigated.
The case has since heightened concerns over the conduct of security personnel during the ongoing protests.
By Agaji Emmanuel
Nigeria’s political landscape is once again being reshaped by alliances that do not always fit neatly into traditional party lines. As the country moves closer to the 2027 general elections, the growing political relevance of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, presents an interesting case of how personal political networks and cross-party relationships can influence the calculations of an incumbent administration.
In this regard, Wike’s relevance to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu goes beyond his position as FCT Minister or his former status as a governor of Rivers State. His greatest political value may lie in his ability to operate across party boundaries and maintain relationships with political actors who do not necessarily belong to the same political party.
The emergence of the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State is one example. The coalition has brought together politicians from different parties, including the PDP and APC, around support for Tinubu’s 2027 presidential bid. Wike has consistently maintained that his support for Tinubu does not mean the PDP cannot field candidates in other elections.
That position makes the political arrangement particularly unusual.
Wike Beyond the APC-PDP Divide
Wike remains a PDP politician even while serving in an APC-led federal administration. President Tinubu appointed him FCT Minister after the 2023 presidential election, creating an uncommon relationship between a former opposition heavyweight and a president whose party was on the other side of the political divide.
Rather than viewing politics solely through the traditional APC-versus-PDP prism, Wike has increasingly presented his political engagement around what he considers strategic interests.
He has openly declared his support for Tinubu’s second-term bid, while maintaining that the PDP remains free to contest governorship and legislative elections in 2027.
That distinction is important because it suggests that Wike’s political calculation is not necessarily about abandoning his party but about creating room for political alliances that transcend conventional party boundaries.
And that, in this writer’s assessment, is where his value to Tinubu becomes significant.
An Administrative Asset in Abuja
Beyond politics, Wike’s performance as FCT Minister has also strengthened his relevance within the Tinubu administration.
Since assuming office in 2023, Wike has overseen several road and infrastructure projects across Abuja and the satellite towns. President Tinubu has repeatedly publicly commended the minister, including in June 2026, when he praised Wike for the pace of infrastructure development in the capital.
The President has also specifically credited Wike with helping to turn government plans into completed road and infrastructure projects across the FCT.
Whether one agrees with every policy of the Tinubu administration or not, the visible infrastructure drive in Abuja has become one of the most prominent aspects of Wike’s ministerial profile.
Roads, satellite-town infrastructure, public facilities and other development projects have given the minister a strong administrative presence.
Wike himself has consistently attributed the progress in the FCT to President Tinubu’s support and the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
His Political Capital May Be More Important
But Wike’s political significance cannot be measured only by roads, buildings and infrastructure.
His experience in opposition politics, his former position as Rivers governor, his extensive political network and his relationships across party lines give him a political reach that may be useful to the Tinubu administration as 2027 approaches.
The question, therefore, is not simply what Wike delivers as a minister.
It is what his political network can potentially add to the administration’s broader coalition-building efforts.
The Rivers Rainbow Coalition is particularly significant in this regard. Wike has described it as the platform to further catapult President Tinubu’s victory in 2027.
News
Labour Party Candidate Takes Leadership Message to Deltans as 2027 Political Season Gathers Momentum
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Dr. Barry Avotu Johnson 1st, the Labour Party’s 2027 Delta State governorship candidate, has released a new campaign jingle designed to communicate his leadership vision and development agenda to the people of Delta State.
The release comes as political activities surrounding the 2027 governorship contest continue to intensify and amid attention to pending judicial developments concerning political and electoral matters.
The campaign jingle presents Dr. Avotu Johnson’s candidacy around a central message of quality leadership, accountable governance, economic opportunity and a new direction for Delta State.
Dr. Avotu Johnson was reported as the Labour Party’s Delta governorship candidate following the party’s 2026 governorship primaries.
“GOOD. BETTER. BEST.”
At the heart of the campaign is the GOOD. BETTER. BEST. vision, which Dr. Avotu Johnson has consistently presented as a framework for moving Delta State from existing achievements toward higher standards of governance and public service.
The campaign’s published priorities include economic development, job creation, education, healthcare, infrastructure, youth empowerment, technology, security and transparent governance.
The new jingle seeks to transform those policy messages into a memorable public campaign theme capable of reaching communities across the state’s 25 Local Government Areas.
A MESSAGE OF LEADERSHIP
Supporters of the Labour Party candidate describe the campaign as an attempt to place leadership quality and measurable governance at the centre of the 2027 Delta conversation.
Rather than focusing exclusively on political personalities, the campaign message emphasizes what it describes as competence, accountability, development and service to the people.
Dr. Avotu Johnson has also publicly linked his political programme to his long-standing advocacy for democratic participation and accountable government.
His campaign slogan, “A Good Delta. A Better Delta. The Best Delta,” has become one of the principal messages associated with his 2027 governorship project.
THE CONTEST AHEAD
The 2027 Delta governorship contest is expected to involve candidates from several political parties. A recent candidate tracker lists Dr. Barry Avotu Johnson for the Labour Party alongside candidates associated with APC, ADC, YP and ZLP, among others.
Against that political background, the Labour Party campaign says the new jingle is intended to introduce its candidate and his programme to a wider audience while encouraging voters to examine the competing candidates, their records, ideas and proposed programmes.
LOOKING TOWARD THE SUPREME COURT
The campaign’s reference to the Supreme Court reflects the wider legal and political environment surrounding Nigeria’s electoral process. However, the outcome of any pending judicial proceeding remains a matter for the Court and should not be presented as predetermined.
For the Avotu Johnson campaign, the immediate political message is clear: the Labour Party candidate intends to continue presenting himself to Deltans as a candidate focused on quality leadership and development-driven governance.
As the 2027 election approaches, the campaign jingle is expected to become an important part of the candidate’s communication strategy across radio, television, social media, community engagements and grassroots mobilisation.
For supporters of Dr. Barry Avotu Johnson 1st, the message behind the music is simple:
GOOD LEADERSHIP.
BETTER GOVERNANCE.
BEST DELTA.
Dr. Barry Avotu Johnson 1st
Labour Party — 2027 Delta State Governorship Candidate
GOOD. BETTER. BEST.
A NEW DELTA STATE IS POSSIBLE.
Police Allegedly Shoot Engine Oil Seller During Minna Protest
Beyond Party Lines: Why Wike Has Become a Political Asset to Tinubu
Labour Party Candidate Takes Leadership Message to Deltans as 2027 Political Season Gathers Momentum
-
Metro14 hours agoEdo Council Chairman Threatens To Demolish Hotel For Hosting NDC Meeting, Leaked Audio Alleges
-
Metro14 hours agoMother, Four Children Die in Rivers Fire Tragedy
-
News14 hours agoTinubu Won’t Attend 81st UN General Assembly In New York –Presidency Source
-
News14 hours agoSoludo pardons jailed native doctor, appoints him youth ambassador
-
News14 hours agoFG To Introduce National Call Centre For Electricity Complaints
-
News21 hours agoJust in: APC Demands Atiku Quit 2027 Race Over $500,000 Mambilla Payment
Warning: Undefined variable $user_ID in /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/themes/zox-news/comments.php on line 49
You must be logged in to post a comment Login