The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerians that the practice of stockpiling or carting away Permanent Voter Cards will not influence the outcome of the 2027 general elections, saying new safeguards have made it impossible to vote with another person’s PVC.
The commission gave the assurance on Thursday in Ilorin, Kwara State, while reaffirming that every valid vote would count and that the 2027 polls would reflect the wishes of the people.
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The reassurance is important as political activities gather pace ahead of the next general election and public attention turns to the credibility of the electoral process.
This development follows public interest in how the amended Electoral Act 2026 and improvements in election procedures will shape the next general election.
INEC said technology, strict compliance with electoral rules and proper implementation of the law would play an important part in protecting the integrity of the voting process and public confidence.
Old tactics no longer work, INEC tells politicians
The Head of Voter Education and Publicity of INEC in Kwara State, Dr Adejumo Peter, said politicians who still believe that collecting or keeping other people’s PVCs can secure victory are relying on outdated methods.
Addressing a seminar organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Ilorin, Peter said the commission had introduced measures that prevent anyone from voting with another person’s voter card.
“INEC has introduced measures that make it impossible for anyone to use another person’s PVC to vote. That is why politicians have shifted their focus to vote buying.”
He continued: “Many politicians are still living in the past. Stockpiling and carting away PVCs can no longer guarantee electoral victory.”
Peter also assured residents of Kwara State that the commission would strictly follow the Electoral Act and all approved election guidelines during the 2027 polls.
He said the commission would conduct elections based on the principle of one person, one vote, with results reflecting the choice made by voters.
“INEC in Kwara will follow the rules and procedures laid down by the commission. We will ensure that the elections are conducted on the basis of one person, one vote. At the end of the exercise, the outcome will reflect the will of the people.”
Peter also appealed to political parties and their candidates to focus on ideas rather than violence during campaigns and the election period.
“I urge politicians to play by the rules. They should campaign on their manifestos and shun violence before, during and after the elections.”
He urged contestants to view elections like a sporting competition and peacefully accept the final outcome.
Electoral law reforms face implementation test
The seminar also examined the amended Electoral Act 2026 and its possible effect on Nigeria’s next general election.
The Head of INEC’s Legal Unit in Kwara State, Abdulfatai Atata, said the law marks an important stage in the country’s electoral development because it introduces reforms intended to improve transparency, strengthen democracy within political parties and increase the use of technology during elections.
He said the law would serve as both a test and a tool as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 polls.
Atata explained that while the amendments introduce important reforms, they also present legal and practical issues that will require careful attention.
He pointed to constitutional consistency, the enforcement of campaign finance limits, judicial jurisdiction in party affairs and the reduction of grounds for election petitions as some of the issues that may shape how the law works in practice.
“As Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, the Act will serve as both a test and a tool for deepening the country’s democratic governance.”
He said the success of the reforms would not depend only on what is written in the law but also on effective implementation, the strength of institutions and judicial interpretation.
The seminar, themed Dissecting the Amended Electoral Act 2026: Innovations and Implications for Nigeria’s 2027 General Elections, brought electoral issues into focus as preparations gradually begin for another nationwide poll, with INEC insisting that safeguards already in place will protect the value of every valid vote.
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