The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is preparing 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 elections.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, announced the plan on Wednesday while receiving the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu, during a courtesy visit to the commission's headquarters in Abuja.
Amupitan said the downloadable PVC option will only be available to voters who have previously collected a physical voter card. The measure is intended for cases where a card has been lost, defaced or become unreadable.
"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 must report the loss or damage at least 90 days before an election to allow the commission to process the request.
According to the INEC chairman, the commission plans to pilot the downloadable PVC system during the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
Amupitan also revealed that INEC is in the final stages of developing a platform that will enable eligible Nigerians to complete voter registration entirely online, eliminating the need to visit INEC offices for biometric capture.
He said the technology is expected to undergo testing once it receives the commission's approval.
The INEC chairman said the digital initiatives are designed to expand access to voter registration, reduce barriers to participation and ensure that eligible Nigerians can register without unnecessary delays.
