Secrets Reporters
A sensational allegation that uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were secretly handed to political operatives for use by non-indigenes in the ongoing Ekiti governorship election has come under intense scrutiny, with electoral officials describing the claim as technically impossible and deliberately misleading.
The controversy erupted after Isaac Fayose, in a viral video circulating on social media, alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released unclaimed PVCs to members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for distribution to individuals allegedly recruited to influence the outcome of the election.
However, findings by SecretsReporters indicate that the claim faces a significant technological hurdle: possession of a PVC alone does not confer voting rights under Nigeria’s current electoral framework.
Election officials familiar with the accreditation process explained that every voter must undergo mandatory biometric verification through the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) before being issued a ballot paper. The system requires either fingerprint authentication or facial recognition to match the identity attached to the specific voter card.
According to officials, any individual attempting to use another person’s PVC would be automatically rejected once the biometric details fail to correspond with the records stored in the accreditation device.
“The narrative suggests that someone can simply pick up another person’s PVC and vote. That is not how the process works. The BVAS is designed specifically to stop that kind of manipulation,” a senior electoral official told SecretsReporters on condition of anonymity.
The official further disclosed that uncollected PVCs from the recent voter collection exercise were retrieved and secured after the exercise, insisting that strict custody procedures remain in place throughout the election period. The allegations have nevertheless gained traction online, fueling concerns among voters and supporters of various political parties. Electoral observers warn that unverified claims circulated during voting periods can heighten tensions, undermine public confidence, and distract attention from actual developments at polling units.
While concerns about electoral integrity remain legitimate in any democratic contest, experts say accusations of mass voting through uncollected PVCs must be weighed against the operational realities of the BVAS accreditation system, which was introduced specifically to eliminate ghost voting, multiple voting, and impersonation.
As voting continues across Ekiti State, attention is expected to remain focused on the performance of electoral technology and the ability of authorities to maintain public confidence in the process.