INEC embarks on ‘Road Show’ for PVCs collection in Imo state

Irked by the huge number PVCs yet to be collected by their owners in Imo state, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Imo state chapter, has embarked on a road walk on the major streets of Owerri in a bid to sensitize the people on the need to collect their Permanent Voters Cards.

Addressing members of the press shortly before the commencement of the road walk today, Professor Ezeonu said that “in accordance with sections 19 and 20 of the electoral act 2010 as amended, the commission has approved that in preparation for the 2019 general elections, the national register of voters will be displayed at all polling units in the country between Tuesday 6^th November to Monday 12^th November 2018 as directed. 

He further said that the exercise is meant to address the removal of ineligible voters, including deceased registered voters, non-Nigerians, registrants with blurred pictures, underage voters and multiple registrations, adding that hearing of claims and objections shall be at the Registration Area centers within the same period.

He said Permanent Voters Cards will be available for collection at the Registration Area centers within the same period.  According to him, submission of claims and objections and collection of PVCs at RA levels will start by 9am to 4 pm each day and will last for only 7 days, weekend inclusive.

Said he, “ It is regretful that we still have a lot of unclaimed PVCs still in our custody. Out of over 380,000 cards of 2011 and 2014 registrants released to us at the beginning of the continuous voter registration exercise in April 2017, about 343, 742 are yet to be claimed. Again. Out of 72, 237 cards received in respect of those who registered in 2017, about 49, 252 are yet to be collected. Just recently, we received another batch of 110, 627 PVCs for people who registered in the first quarter of 2018, and only a paltry number, 396, has so far been collected in the last three weeks. Altogether a total of 500, 525 PVCs are yet to be collected in Imo state as at 29^th October 2018”.

Ezeonu called all registered voters who have not collected their PVCs to take advantage of INEC’s deployment to Registration Areas to do so, adding that they should go to the RAs where they registered with their temporary voters card to collect their Permanent Voters Card.

He said that the commission will ensure that the process of collection is simplified with minimum inconvenience to the citizens of the state and warned that no person will be allowed to vote with temporary voters card and also, no person will be allowed to collect his or her PVC by proxy.