INEC extends deadline for PVC collection
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that it has extended the deadline for the collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) for the 2023 general election. The extension moves the collection end date from January 22 to January 29, 2023. The extension was announced by Festus Okoye, national commissioner and chairman of the INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee.
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According to Okoye, the new date became imperative in view of the huge turnout of registered voters and the surge in the number of collected PVCs across Nigeria. The commission wants to ensure that all registered voters have ample opportunity to collect their PVCs before the election. The collection at the registration area (Ward) level is extended by one week from Monday 16th – Sunday 22nd January while the local government stage level will resume Monday 23rd – Sunday 29th January 2023.
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It is worth noting that INEC also said investigations will be made on alleged extortion by officials at some of the collection centers and inducement by some eligible voters to circumvent processes in order to obtain their PVCs. “The Commission is disturbed by allegations of discriminatory issuance of PVCs in some locations. This is against the law. All bonafide registrants are entitled to their PVCs and to use them to vote on Election Day in any part of the country where they are registered. Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) have been directed to ensure that no such practices occur nationwide and take immediate disciplinary action against violators,” according to the Okoye.
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The commission also highlighted that it has printed 13,868,441 PVCs for all new valid registrants as well as applicants for transfer or replacement of cards. Nevertheless, issuing officers should compile any complaints about the 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. This extension is a crucial step to ensure that all eligible voters are able to participate in the election and exercise their right to vote.
