The Atiku Abubakar 2027 presidential campaign has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to decentralise Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection to the ward level ahead of the general election.
The campaign also urged INEC to extend collection hours and use technology to notify registered voters when their cards are ready, warning that registration figures would mean little if eligible voters could not obtain their PVCs.
The campaign council made the demands in a statement on Wednesday by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, following INEC’s World Press Conference on Tuesday.
Ologbondiyan said the electoral body must ensure that administrative procedures did not disenfranchise voters, particularly in areas where opposition parties had strong support.
“Reading out figures of registration is nothing. What matters is the number of cards actually collected by Nigerians,” he said.
According to him, the campaign was concerned about alleged bureaucratic bottlenecks and delays at PVC collection centres and urged INEC to make the process accessible to all eligible voters.
The campaign also accused the electoral commission of risking its credibility by allegedly favouring the ruling All Progressives Congress, calling on INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, to maintain neutrality ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We urge INEC to be independent and not take orders from the APC. INEC must remain an unbiased umpire and not operate as an extension of the ruling party,” Ologbondiyan said.
He said the ADC-backed campaign would demand compliance with the Constitution and Electoral Act from voter registration through the declaration of results.
The campaign said its presidential candidate remained prepared to participate in the 2027 election provided the process was free, fair, credible and devoid of violence or manipulation.
It also urged Nigerians, particularly first-time voters, not to be discouraged by administrative challenges but to complete the process by collecting their PVCs.
Ologbondiyan said the 2027 election offered Nigerians an opportunity to determine the direction of the country through the ballot and warned against any attempt to manipulate the process.
“Any attempt to rig or tilt the process in favour of the ruling party will be met with lawful and resolute resistance from the people,” he said.
The campaign said it would continue to monitor INEC’s preparations and urged the commission to ensure equal access to voter registration and PVC collection across the country.
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