2027: ADC Warns INEC Against Voter Suppression

By Peter Emmanuel |

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against allowing delays in the production and distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to disenfranchise registered voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party called on INEC to immediately publish a clear nationwide timetable showing when newly registered voters can expect their PVCs to be produced, distributed and made available for collection.

The ADC said registered Nigerians should not be left uncertain about when and where they would be able to collect the cards required to participate in the electoral process.

The party made the demand in a statement dated September 11, 2026, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.

According to the ADC, the issue is particularly concerning in the Northwest, where it said delays in PVC availability could create barriers for eligible voters who have already completed the registration process.

ADC Raises Concern Over PVC Delays in Northwest

The ADC said registering citizens without ensuring timely access to their PVCs could undermine their ability to exercise their constitutional right to vote.

The party said millions of Nigerians who completed the voter registration process deserved certainty about when and where their PVCs would be available for collection.

“You cannot register Nigerians to vote and then make them run from office to office searching for the card that enables them to exercise that right,” the party said.

The ADC described registration without access to a PVC as “disenfranchisement by another route,” arguing that the electoral process should not create unnecessary obstacles for citizens who have already taken steps to participate.

The party therefore urged INEC to address concerns over PVC delays before they become more difficult to resolve as the 2027 general elections draw closer.

Party Demands Nationwide PVC Distribution Timetable

The ADC called on INEC to publish state-by-state figures showing the number of newly registered voters, PVCs produced, cards already distributed and those still outstanding.

It also asked the electoral commission to provide clear information on the locations where registered voters would be able to collect their PVCs.

According to the party, greater public information is needed to ensure that voters are not left searching for information about the status or location of their cards.

The ADC also called for stronger public awareness campaigns around PVC collection and urged INEC to decentralise collection arrangements where practicable.

It said clear and accessible information would help voters understand the process and reduce confusion as the country moves closer to the 2027 elections.

ADC Warns Delays Could Disenfranchise Voters

The ADC warned that continued uncertainty over PVC distribution could affect public confidence in the electoral process and raise concerns about the credibility of the 2027 elections.

The party said there should be no situation in which eligible voters are forced into an election-eve scramble to obtain cards they had been entitled to collect earlier.

It urged INEC to act early rather than waiting until the final stages of the electoral cycle before addressing outstanding PVCs or responding to complaints from registered voters.

The ADC said it would monitor the distribution process and document complaints from citizens who experience difficulties accessing their PVCs.

It warned against what it described as excuses and emergency promises when the election is already approaching, insisting that the commission should provide certainty well ahead of time.

“Every PVC that remains unnecessarily unavailable represents a citizen whose constitutional voice is at risk of being silenced,” the party said.