The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the extension of the time frame for the collection of the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) until Sunday 29th January 2023. This according to the Commission is to ensure that registered voters have ample opportunity to collect their PVCs ahead of the forthcoming election.
This is contained in a Press statement signed by Festus Okoye Esq., the National Commissioner & Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee for the 2023 general elections on Thursday.
According to the release, as a result of the extension, there is a consequential adjustment of the collection by location as follows:
1. Collection at Registration Area (Ward) level is extended by one a week from Monday 16th-Sunday 22nd January 2023.
2. Collection at Local Government level will resume on Monday 23rd – Sunday 29th January 2023. It further added that the period of collection is 9.00am – 3.00pm daily (including Saturdays and Sundays).
Giving an account of how many PVCs have been produced since the commencement of the exercise, Festus stated that the Commission has printed 13,868,441 PVCs for all new valid registrants as well as applicants for transfer or replacement of cards.
“In some of the States, as many as 100,000 PVCs were collected in the last five days since the devolution to Ward level started on Friday 6th January 2023”, the statement added.
Nevertheless the press release encourages Issuing officers to compile any complaints about non-availability of cards and forward them to their immediate supervisors for the attention of Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) who shall compile and forward them for necessary action.
