The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC held a meeting today, Thursday 12 January 2023, over a series of issues following the difficulties of Nigerian in the collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) across the nation.
INEC was encouraged by the massive turnout of registered voters and the mass number of collected PVCs across the nation in the space of five days.
It was stated in the press release dated 12 January 2023 and signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye Esq that over 100,000 PVCs have been collected across the nation in the last five days since the devolution to Ward Level started on Saturday 6 January 2023.
Festus said the commission is determined to ensure that all registered voters have ample opportunity to collect their PVCs ahead of the general election next month. In view of this, the commission extended the collection of PVCs by eight days.
The collection at the registration area which is ward level is extended by one week from Monday 16 – Sunday 22 January 2023 while collection at the local government level will resume on Monday 23 – Sunday 29 January 2023.
Festus said that the Commission is currently investigating allegations of extortion by some INEC officials at some collection centres and inducement by some unscrupulous voters to circumvent the process in order to obtain their PVCs. The Commission vowed that anyone found culpable will face disciplinary action and be prosecuted accordingly.
In the same vein, the Commission said, all eligible registrants are entitled to their PVCs and they are to use them to vote on Election Day in any part of the nation where they are registered. Okoye further stated that it is against the electoral law to discriminate against the issuance of PVCs to certain regions. The Commission directed the Resident Electoral Commission (RECs) to ensure that these abnormal practices should be prevented nationwide and take immediate disciplinary action against defaulters.
The Commission said a total of 13,868,441 PVCs has been printed for all valid registrants as well as applicants for transfer or replacement of cards. Okoye said all complaints about the non-availability of PVCs should be compiled by the issuing officers and forwarded to their immediate supervisors for the attention of the Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) who will compile the same and forward them for necessary action.
The Commission appreciates the perseverance and patience of Nigerian as the commission will continue to fine-tune their process to make the collection of PVCs easier for all eligible voters, Okoye added.