The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the distribution of non-sensitive election materials to some states ahead of the 2027 general elections, as it disclosed that the production of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) had been completed.
The Acting Chairman of INEC, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during a meeting with a delegation from Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), led by the country’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Isaac Parashina.
Gumus said the commission had completed nine of its scheduled activities and was making progress in its preparations following an assessment tour of the six geopolitical zones to evaluate their level of readiness, identify challenges and address operational gaps ahead of the elections.
She explained that the assessment enabled the commission to determine the level of preparedness across the zones and identify areas requiring further attention.
According to her, the commission had made significant progress in the preparation of non-sensitive materials, some of which had already been moved to the zones.
“Right now, all non-sensitive materials are almost ready. In fact, today, as we speak here, the non-sensitive materials have been lifted to some zones now. I spoke to the commissioner in charge of that,” she said.
The INEC acting chairman also disclosed that the production of PVCs had been completed, with most states having received the first and second batches, while collection was ongoing.
She urged eligible voters to collect their PVCs ahead of the elections, stressing the importance of the cards in enabling them to participate in the electoral process.
Gumus further said the commission was conducting capacity-building exercises for its personnel at the national and state levels to strengthen their operational capacity ahead of the polls.
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She added that procurement and deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) were also ongoing as part of efforts to improve the credibility and efficiency of the electoral process.
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On the proposed introduction of aspirant voting, Gumus said INEC could not implement the arrangement without the necessary amendment to the Electoral Act, stressing that the commission was bound by existing electoral laws.
Earlier, the Kenyan High Commissioner, Isaac Parashina, said the delegation was in Nigeria to understudy the country’s electoral system ahead of Kenya’s August 2027 general elections.
He said both countries shared similar electoral challenges despite differences in population and geographical size.
Parashina disclosed that the Kenyan delegation was particularly interested in Nigeria’s experience with diaspora voting and arrangements for special interest groups.
He said Kenya was exploring ways to expand voting opportunities for its citizens living abroad, adding that about 12 countries participated in its diaspora voting arrangements during the last general election, with plans to increase the number to approximately 26.
The envoy described Nigeria’s electoral experience as important to the continent, expressing optimism that the engagement would strengthen cooperation between the electoral commissions of both countries.
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