2027 Polls: ADC Calls for Transparent PVC Rollout Before 2027 Elections

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently release a comprehensive, state-by-state timetable for the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), insisting that access to voter cards is fundamental to the credibility of Nigeria’s 2027 general election.

In a statement issued on Friday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, urged the electoral commission to publish detailed information for every state, including the number of newly registered voters, PVCs already produced and distributed, outstanding cards awaiting collection, and the designated centres where voters can obtain them.

According to the ADC, voter registration alone does not guarantee electoral participation if eligible Nigerians are unable to access the cards that enable them to vote.

“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 argued that PVC collection should be treated as an essential component of the electoral process rather than a routine administrative exercise. It warned that uncertainty over distribution timelines could discourage participation and undermine public confidence in the elections if left unresolved.

The demand comes as INEC intensifies preparations for the 2027 polls. The commission has already concluded candidate nominations and fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, making the timely distribution of voter cards one of the next major milestones in the electoral calendar.

Beyond publishing a timetable, the ADC urged INEC to strengthen nationwide public awareness campaigns and decentralize PVC collection wherever possible. It argued that long travel distances, bureaucratic procedures and poor communication often prevent registered voters, particularly those in rural and underserved communities, from collecting their cards.

“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,” Abdullahi said.

The party also announced plans to activate its structures across the country to independently monitor the PVC distribution exercise. It said party officials would document complaints from registered voters who encounter difficulties obtaining their cards and relay those concerns to the appropriate authorities.

“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,” the statement added.

Electoral observers have consistently identified PVC collection as one of the most critical logistical stages of Nigeria’s election cycle. In previous elections, thousands of registered voters were unable to cast their ballots because they had not collected their cards before polling day, despite completing the registration process.

As political campaigns gather momentum, the ADC’s appeal shifts attention from candidate politics to voter access. The party argues that the credibility of the 2027 elections will depend not only on what happens on election day, but also on whether every registered Nigerian is given a fair and timely opportunity to obtain the PVC that guarantees their constitutional right to vote.