Group worries over uncollected PVCs

The Centre for Democracy and Development in West Africa (CDD-West Africa) has expressed concerns over millions of uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

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The organisation’s director, Dauda Garuba, expressed worry over the situation in Abuja on Tuesday while unveiling Victor Adetula as the new chair of its Election Analysis Centre (EAC).

He described the situation as a “silent crisis” that could undermine the credibility of the next general elections.

“If unresolved, millions of citizens risk exclusion from the 2027 elections, a development that could erode both participation and legitimacy,” Mr Garuba said.

There are said to be at least 5.9 million uncollected PVCs, requirement for voting in Nigerian elections, as of August.

Voter turnout has been on decline over the years . The only increase came in 2003 under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, when participation rose to 69 per cent from 52.3 per cent in 1999.

But since then, turnout has dropped to 57.5 per cent in 2007, 53.7 per cent in 2011, 43.7 per cent in 2015, 34.8 per cent in 2019, and a record low of 28.6 per cent in 2023.

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Although 87.2 million people collected their PVCs ahead of the 2023 elections, only about 25.3 million voters turned up on election day, the lowest participation rate in Nigeria’s history.

Expectations were high after INEC introduced the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the Results Viewing Portal (IReV), backed by the Electoral Act 2022. INEC had repeatedly promised to deploy the technologies nationwide, but many voters were disappointed when the commission failed to upload presidential results in real time, citing server errors.

The breakdown deepened mistrust in the electoral process, especially among young and first-time voters. Subsequent elections, including the 2024 Ondo and Edo governorship polls, recorded abysmal turnout of 24.8 per cent and 24.5 per cent respectively.

CDD had noted that disillusioned Nigerians have since taken to social media to vow never to vote again. “Without overhauling INEC, I will never vote in Nigeria again,” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Another added: “My household and I will never vote in Nigeria again. We have washed our hands off.”

The European Union Observer Mission shared similar concerns, noting that “shortcomings in law and electoral administration damaged trust in INEC” and “challenged the right to vote.”

Mr Garuba urged INEC to embark on a nationwide campaign to boost PVC collection, decentralise collection centres, and invest in grassroots voter education.

He also called on political parties to focus on issue-based campaigns, security agencies to remain neutral, and citizens to reject inducements.

“The stakes ahead of 2027 are not just about whether democracy will survive; they are about the kind of democracy Nigerians will inherit,” he said.

Leadership transition at CDD-EAC

Tuesday’s event also marked a leadership transition at the CDD Election Analysis Centre. Mr Adetula, a professor, took over from veteran scholar Adele Jinadu, who chaired the centre for 14 years.

Mr Garuba praised Mr Jinadu, an 82-year-old professor, for strengthening electoral analysis in Nigeria and West Africa.

In his acceptance remarks, Mr Adetula pledged to broaden the centre’s focus beyond election monitoring to include governance oversight and evidence-based electoral reforms.

“As we look towards 2027, our priorities must expand to address the economic and political factors that threaten electoral integrity,” he said.

Other speakers, including CDD Senior Fellow Jibrin Ibrahim and activist Ene Obi, urged Nigerians to remain committed to reforms that safeguard democracy and good governance.