For Nigerians interested in participating in the 2023
elections, it’s time to keep your permanent voter cards (PVCs) closer than
ever. This is because under the Electoral Act 2022, persons whose PVCs are lost
or damaged 90 days before an election date will not be eligible to vote in that
election.
On Friday, President Muhammadu Buhari signed the electoral
act amendment bill into law, having rejected the bill four times — the last
being in December 2021.
The president’s approval came after protests by Nigerians
and civil society organisations.
NEW AMENDMENTS ON
DURATION OF VOTER REGISTRATION, CARD REPLACEMENT
In the Electoral Act 2022, INEC must stop voter registration
and revision of the voters’ register 90 days before election. This is an
amendment to the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended), which provided for voter
registration to end 60 days before an election.
Part III, section 9 (6) of the Electoral Act 2022 states:
“The registration of voters, updating and revision of the register of voters
under this section shall stop not later than 90 days before any election
covered by this Act.”
On card replacement, in the 2010 Electoral Act, Nigerians
who lost their voter cards were allowed to apply for new cards up to 30 days before the election.
But the new electoral act provides that Nigerians whose PVCs
are lost or destroyed 90 days before an election will not get replacements.
Section 18 of the Electoral Act 2022 states: “(1) Whenever a
voter’s card is lost, destroyed, defaced, torn or otherwise damaged, the owner
of such card shall, not less than 90 days before polling day, apply in person
to the electoral officer or any other officer duly authorised for that purpose
by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, stating the circumstances of the loss,
destruction, defacement or damage.
“(2) Where the electoral officer or any other officer is
satisfied as to the circumstances of loss, destruction, defacement or damage of
the voter’s card, he or she shall issue to the voter a replacement permanent
voter’s card.
“(3) No person shall
issue a replacement permanent voter’s card to any voter less than 90 days
before polling day.
“(4) Where the electoral officer or any other officer is
satisfied as to the circumstances of the loss, destruction, defacement or
damage of the voter’s card, he or she shall issue to the voter another copy of
the voter’s original voter’s card with the word “REPLACEMENT” clearly marked or
printed on it, showing the date of issue.”
With the presidential and national assembly elections
scheduled to hold on February 25, 2023, the new provisions imply that Nigerians
whose PVCs are lost or destroyed within the next nine months will not be able
to get replacement after November 27, 2022.
As such, they would not be eligible to vote in the 2023
elections as the stipulated duration for card replacement after November 27
would be less than 90 days to the poll.
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