By Emmanuel Thomas l Friday, Sept 11, 2026
ABUJA — As preparations for the forthcoming general elections intensify across the country, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a stern warning to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), urging the electoral body to prevent ongoing delays in the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs)—particularly in the Northwest geopolitical zone—from degenerating into deliberate voter suppression.
In a strong press statement issued in Abuja on Friday, September 11, 2026, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party demanded that the commission immediately publish a comprehensive, state-by-state timetable detailing the production, distribution, and collection phases of the cards.
The opposition party emphasized that millions of Nigerians who patiently took part in the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise are entitled to total clarity regarding when and where their hard-earned voter cards can be retrieved. According to the ADC, administrative bottlenecks must not be allowed to weaken citizens’ constitutional right to choose their leaders at the polls.
”Registration Without Access Is Disenfranchisement”
Addressing the persistent complaints from registered voters across various states, the ADC criticized the current operational hurdles citizens face at local electoral offices. The party stressed that registering citizens to vote without ensuring seamless access to their cards amounts to disenfranchisement by stealth.
”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. Registration without access to a PVC is disenfranchisement by another route,” the statement read.
The party warned that administrative inefficiency in handling vital electoral materials threatens the foundational credibility of the upcoming elections.
“With the general election approaching, Nigerians should not be left wondering whether their cards will arrive in time. This is not a logistical footnote. It goes to the heart of the credibility of the election itself,” Abdullahi declared.
Key Demands Sent to Electoral Umpire
To clear doubts and eliminate suspicion of electoral manipulation, the ADC outlined specific transparency metrics that INEC must immediately publish for public oversight:
State-by-State Data: Full disclosure of total newly registered voters per state.
Production Status: Exact numbers of PVCs printed versus outstanding cards.
Distribution Figures: Verified metrics on cards already distributed to collection points.
Logistical Maps: Clear lists of designated decentralised collection centres across local government areas.
Furthermore, the ADC charged the commission to urgently scale up public information campaigns and push collection points down to the ward level. The party noted that geographical distance, excessive bureaucratic red tape, and poor public awareness must not stand as artificial barriers between citizens and their voting rights.
Taking a proactive stance, the ADC announced that it is activating its internal party structures across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to systematically track the PVC distribution process and document complaints from affected citizens.
“We do not want an election-eve scramble, excuses, or emergency promises. INEC has the opportunity to resolve this matter now, transparently and comprehensively,” the statement continued, reiterating that the political party will keep a spotlight on every region experiencing unnecessary delays.
Concluding the press statement, Abdullahi emphasized that the integrity of the ballot depends on the complete inclusion of every eligible registrant: “Every PVC that remains unnecessarily unavailable represents a citizen whose constitutional voice is at risk of being silenced. That must not be allowed to happen.”
