Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, made this known on Wednesday. He emphasized that while the commission is committed to expanding voter access through technology, any change must be aligned with legal provisions.

This follows comments made by INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, in December 2024 during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners. Yakubu had suggested that the exclusive use of PVCs for accreditation should be reconsidered.

“The commission also believes that with the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the use of the Permanent Voters’ Cards as the sole means of identification for voter accreditation on Election Day should be reviewed,” Yakubu said.

He noted that voters could, in the future, use slips generated by INEC or downloaded from its website for accreditation — a move that would cut costs, ease logistics, and curb voter card-related malpractice.

“Those who already have the PVCs can still use them to vote, but going forward, computer-generated slips issued to the voter or even downloaded from the Commission’s website will suffice for voter accreditation,” he added.
Oyekanmi clarified that INEC supports the idea, but stressed,
“It is
not our stand-alone that is important. Equally critical is what the subsisting law says… the law needs to be amended to reflect it.”

The proposal, if passed into law, could mark a major shift in Nigeria’s electoral process by making voter participation more accessible and technology-driven.

The Federal Ministry of Works has announced that the long-standing dispute delaying the construction of the 38-kilometre Kano Northern Bypass has been successfully resolved.

The breakthrough comes after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by the aggrieved parties, which included affected communities, a factory, and the ministry itself.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Engr. Olufunsho Olusesan Adebiy, stated to newsmen that it was critical for the government to intervene in the matter to allow the project to proceed. He assured the public that with the resolution in place, construction work would resume immediately.

Sani Abdulkadir, an engineer involved in the project, explained that the bypass, which connects Danzaki and Dawanau to the Katsina Road, spans about 38 kilometers and includes 10 bridges, four flyovers, and six river crossings. He noted with concern that the project had stagnated at just 2.7% completion due to the earlier conflict.

Speaking on behalf of the affected communities, Malam Lawal Muhammed Dan Zaki expressed the community’s commitment to fully cooperate to ensure the successful completion of the vital infrastructure project.

A Non-governmental organization, Human Life Protection Advocacy Initiative, HLPAI, has called for the immediate sack of the Nigeria Minister for Environment, Mallam Lawal, over alleged acts of economic sabotage and tribal bias.

The demand was made public in a press statement issued by the Imo State group Coordinator, Prince Chukwudi Francis Maduba, following an alleged refusal of the Minister to approve Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, CITES, permits for qualified Igbo exporters despite on time payment for the bid.

He stated that the alleged refusal was a clear indication of tribal discrimination and a deliberate attempt to suppress the economic activities of a particular ethnic group.

Maduba, pointed out that the attitude of the Minister is not just a case of bureaucratic delay but a clear move for economic sabotage,

“Igbo businessmen who have met all requirements and paid for their permits are being unjustly denied access, while people from other ethnic backgrounds are given preferential treatment. This kind of tribal sentiment is dangerous and must not be allowed to continue under a Government that promises fairness and unity, ”he alleged.

The HLPAI coordinator went further to allege that the recent act is not the first time Mallam Lawal has targeted southeastern businessmen, citing previous instances involving wood exporters who also faced similar delay and refusal from the Ministry.