Samson Itodo, the executive director of Yiaga Africa, has advocated for the discontinuation of the use of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) in Nigerian elections, citing the introduction of the Bi-Modal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS) as a viable alternative.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics discussing the upcoming Edo and Ondo governorship elections later this year, Itodo highlighted the potential of BIVAS to revolutionize the electoral process.
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“BIVAS should render the PVC obsolete in our electoral system,” Itodo remarked, emphasizing the need for electoral laws to be updated to reflect these technological advancements.
Expressing concerns over logistical challenges faced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Itodo noted that many of the 269,000 recently registered voters might not receive their PVCs in time for the Edo and Ondo elections.
He argued that voters should be allowed to use any valid means of identification, such as the National Identity Card, driver’s license, or passport, if their details are already captured in BIVAS.
“In the 2023 elections, numerous registered voters were disenfranchised due to uncollected PVCs, which is a violation of their rights,” Itodo stated.
He emphasized that disenfranchisement should not occur due to logistical challenges on INEC’s part.
“We have consistently advocated for the elimination of PVC dependency in elections. BIVAS provides an efficient means for voter accreditation,” Itodo asserted.
Regarding voter demographics, Itodo highlighted that 67% of the new registrants fall within the 18-34 age bracket. However, he lamented the low voter turnout among Nigerian youths, attributing it to factors such as insecurity and distrust in the electoral process.
Moving forward, Itodo stressed the importance of enhancing youth participation in elections and ensuring a seamless electoral process through technological innovation like BIVAS.
The push towards BIVAS represents a significant step towards modernizing Nigeria’s electoral system, potentially eliminating longstanding issues associated with PVC distribution and voter disenfranchisement.
