The Independent National Electoral Commission has said it will introduce a downloadable voter card option in subsequent elections, beginning with the Osun State governorship election in August 2026 and the 2027 general election.
The Commission disclosed this while giving an update on the collection of Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the Ekiti State governorship election held on June 20, 2026.
In a statement issued by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, INEC said the option of a downloadable copy of lost, damaged or defaced voter cards could not be implemented for the Ekiti election because the required technology infrastructure had not yet been completed.
“The option of a downloadable copy of the lost, damaged or defaced voter cards could not be implemented in this election because the necessary technology infrastructure for this is yet to be completed,” the Commission said.
INEC, however, assured voters that the innovation would be available in future elections, particularly the Osun governorship election scheduled for August 2026 and the 2027 general election.
The proposed system is expected to provide relief for registered voters whose Permanent Voter Cards are lost, damaged or defaced, by enabling them to access a downloadable copy rather than relying solely on the physical replacement process.
The clarification came as INEC announced the conclusion of the PVC collection exercise in Ekiti State.
According to the Commission, the number of registered voters in Ekiti increased from 987,647 recorded in the 2023 governorship election to 1,059,360 in 2026, following the Continuous Voter Registration exercise and the subsequent clean-up of the voters’ register.
INEC said 1,028,929 PVCs were collected ahead of the poll, representing 97.1 per cent of registered voters in the state.
The figure represents a slight increase from the 2023 governorship election, when 958,052 PVCs were collected, representing 97 per cent of registered voters.
The Commission said the PVC collection exercise, which was earlier scheduled to end on June 11, was extended to June 14 after consultations with stakeholders at a meeting held in Ado-Ekiti.
On replacement cards, INEC disclosed that it received 14,406 applications from voters whose cards were lost, damaged or defaced.
It said all the 14,406 replacement PVCs were printed, with most of them already collected by their owners before the election.
Haruna said all eligible applicants, including those who registered during the CVR exercise, transferred their registration to Ekiti State or applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced PVCs, had their cards printed and made available for collection.
The Commission explained that the replacement process is in line with the Electoral Act, which provides for the issuance of replacement voter cards where the original card is lost, damaged or defaced.
Under INEC’s existing process, voters seeking replacement of lost or damaged cards may apply through the online voter registration system by retrieving their voter record, stating the reason for replacement and undergoing identity verification.
The coming downloadable option is therefore expected to further simplify the process and reduce the pressure associated with physical collection of replacement cards.
However, INEC’s statement indicates that the new system will be introduced gradually, after the completion of the necessary technological infrastructure.
The development is significant because the PVC has remained central to voter accreditation in Nigeria’s elections, and difficulties in replacing lost or damaged cards have often affected voters who are otherwise duly registered.
If implemented as planned, the downloadable voter card option could reduce disenfranchisement, ease the burden on voters and cut down the administrative pressure on INEC offices before major elections.
INEC commended traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society organisations, political parties and the media for supporting voter mobilisation and encouraging eligible voters in Ekiti to collect their PVCs.
The Commission also urged registered voters who collected their PVCs to turn out peacefully and exercise their franchise.
It reassured residents of Ekiti State of its commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election.
The planned introduction of downloadable voter cards comes amid wider public debate on electoral reforms, technology deployment and measures to improve voter participation ahead of the 2027 general election.
