Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Onitsha South Local Government Area of Anambra State have been accused of demanding money from applicants before releasing their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
The allegation surfaced in a video circulating on social media, where a resident claimed that some officials at the INEC office requested ₦2,000 from applicants before processing and issuing their voter cards.
According to the individual who shared the account, the situation became tense when one of the applicants challenged the demand.
The applicant reportedly insisted that PVCs are issued free of charge and should not attract any form of payment.
The resident alleged that an argument broke out after the applicant attempted to record the interaction. The video has since attracted reactions from members of the public, with many Nigerians expressing concern over the claims.
In the footage, voices could be heard during a heated exchange, although the full circumstances surrounding the incident were not immediately clear.
However, the electoral body has repeatedly maintained that voter registration, PVC collection, transfer of voter information, correction of personal details and replacement of lost or damaged voter cards are services provided free of charge.
Under Nigeria’s electoral guidelines, applicants are not required to make payments before obtaining their PVCs.
The commission has consistently advised citizens to report any form of extortion by its officials or temporary staff involved in voter registration activities.
As of the time of filing this report, INEC had not issued an official statement specifically addressing the allegations from the Onitsha South office.
In a related development, the commission recently extended the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise across the country following requests from stakeholders and members of the public.
The extension was announced to allow more eligible Nigerians to register and update their voter records ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC also introduced an online self-service platform to enable first-time voters and existing registrants to complete several voter registration processes more conveniently.
The platform covers fresh registration, transfer of voting locations, correction of personal information and requests for replacement of damaged or missing PVCs.
More details to follow as event unfolds…
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