2027 Elections: ADC Urges INEC to Improve PVC Collection, Maintain Neutrality

The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to make Permanent Voter Card collection more accessible ahead of Nigeria's 2027 general elections.

The council also warned INEC against allowing political interests to influence the electoral process, arguing that voter registration figures will have limited value if eligible Nigerians cannot obtain their PVCs before election day.

The ADC Presidential Campaign Council made the demands in a statement issued on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan.

The statement followed INEC's World Press Conference on Tuesday and focused on the commission's preparations for the 2027 elections.

The council asked INEC to decentralise PVC collection to the ward level, extend collection hours and use technology to notify voters when their cards are ready.

It also called on the electoral commission to remain independent and impartial throughout the electoral cycle, from voter registration and PVC collection to voting, collation and declaration of results.

Ologbondiyan argued that the number of registered voters alone does not show how many citizens will ultimately be able to participate in the election.

The council alleged that administrative delays and bottlenecks at PVC collection centres could disenfranchise voters, particularly in areas it considers opposition strongholds.

However, the allegation that INEC is deliberately making PVCs more available in APC areas than opposition areas has not been independently established and should be understood as the ADC's political claim.

PVC collection is an important practical part of electoral participation.

For a registered voter, completing registration does not by itself answer questions about where and when a card can be collected. The accessibility of collection centres, opening hours and information about card availability can therefore affect how easily citizens complete the process.

The ADC's proposals are aimed at reducing those administrative barriers.

The council specifically wants collection points moved closer to voters and has called for longer collection hours. It also wants voters to receive notifications when their cards become available.

For first-time voters and people who may have difficulty travelling to designated collection locations, clearer information and more accessible collection arrangements could make the process easier.

The council has made that allegation, but it is important to separate a political warning from an established finding.

Ologbondiyan accused INEC of risking public confidence if voters face unequal access to PVCs and urged the commission not to operate in a way that favours the ruling APC.

The ADC also said it would resist any attempt to manipulate the electoral process through lawful and democratic means.

There is currently no verified evidence establishing the specific allegation that INEC is deliberately supplying PVCs to APC strongholds while withholding them from opposition areas.

The broader demand for electoral neutrality, however, extends beyond PVC collection. The ADC said it expects compliance with electoral laws throughout the entire process.

The argument highlights a distinction between being registered and being practically prepared to vote.

The ADC's position is that publishing registration numbers is not enough if some eligible voters encounter difficulties collecting their cards.

The council therefore wants INEC to provide more convenient collection arrangements and better communication with voters.

It also urged Nigerians, particularly first-time voters, not to abandon the electoral process because of administrative difficulties.

For voters, official information from INEC remains important when determining registration status, collection arrangements and other election-related requirements.

The 2027 election is already becoming a major focus for political parties, including the ADC, which has positioned itself as part of the opposition political space.

The party's warning therefore comes within a broader debate about the independence and credibility of Nigeria's electoral institutions.

The ADC said it would monitor INEC's preparations and demand compliance with the Constitution and Electoral Act throughout the electoral cycle.

Its campaign council also said its presidential candidate remained prepared to participate in the election provided the process is free, fair, credible and peaceful.

The ADC has called on INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to take steps to make PVC collection more accessible, particularly by moving collection points closer to voters.

The commission's subsequent decisions and official announcements on PVC collection will determine how the process is organised as the 2027 election approaches.

The ADC has also said it will continue monitoring the electoral process and pushing for transparency and neutrality.

The immediate issue raised by the ADC is straightforward: whether registered Nigerians will have a practical and accessible route to obtaining their PVCs before the 2027 election.

The council's wider allegations about partisan treatment remain claims that require evidence. What can be established from the statement is that a political party is demanding greater accessibility and neutrality from INEC as preparations for the next general election continue.