The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Olamilekan Adeola, has called upon the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to explore alternative identification methods to mitigate voter disenfranchisement.
Adeola, commonly called Yayi, observed that accepting various forms of voting identification would enhance the electoral process’s inclusivity and transparency.
Naija News reports that the lawmaker representing the Ogun West Senatorial District commended using National Identity Numbers and Driver’s Licenses as valid voter identification during the ongoing local government elections in Ogun State.
He described this approach as preventing voter disenfranchisement and ensuring broad participation.
After casting his vote at the U.A.M.C. Polling Unit in Pahayi, Ilaro, Yayi remarked that the Independent National Electoral Commission could alleviate issues related to the Permanent Voter’s Card by considering alternative identification options, thereby facilitating a more seamless voting experience for Nigerians.
In an interview following his vote, the senator proposed that passports or national identity cards could be accepted in conjunction with the INEC card to authenticate voters’ identities.
However, Yayi recognized that the existing electoral legislation only acknowledges the INEC card, indicating that any modifications would necessitate legal amendments. He underscored the importance of a comprehensive and lawful process to effectuate these changes.
“I want to strongly believe that if we mitigate against this idea of disenfranchising people from casting their vote for one reason or the other, I will believe that it is not a bad idea to use other means of identification.
“The only thing is that there should be a lot of processes into this that will make it more legal, and that can show to the whole world the level of using it transparent. As far as that process is concerned, this will convince Nigerians that going forward into the future, aside from the PVCs, we can also use other legal means of identification, like a passport or the NIN card.
“But as I have said, what is recognised by law as we speak today is the PVC. So, if we are going to amend, the Electoral Act has to accommodate all of these that have not yet been done,” he told the press.
Adeola added: “So for now, we stand for INEC to introduce this; it is a way not to disenfranchise the people from exercising their fundamental human rights. It is the right step in the right direction, to an extent.
“But for me, from the point of view of a lawmaker, I know that the right thing has to be done for that process to be recognised by law.”
Adeola, however, commended the peaceful election process in his senatorial district and the state, noting that the turnout was impressive.
“It is a very peaceful election process, from what we have been able to gather from everywhere across the length and breadth of my senatorial district and, by extension, across the state. And as for the turnout, I can say from where I voted here, I am impressed with the level of the turnout.
“It is expected that the process has just commenced, and in the next couple of hours, I believe that everybody will be fully aware that the voting process has commenced, and they need to come out and cast their vote for the candidate of their choice.
“And I must commend particularly the OGSIEC for putting together a very successful process that is made easy,’ he noted.
Adeola’s call for alternative identification methods echoes similar proposals by civil society organisations, such as Yiaga Africa, which has advocated for the use of national ID cards, passports, and driver’s licences for voter verification.