One of the PVC collection centres in Abuja. Photo: Punch
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun the distribution of the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) today, Monday.
Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education, INEC, Festus Okoye disclosed this while speaking at a parley with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Mr Okoye said the commission had met to discuss several issues on the 2023 general election, including PVC.
He also disclosed that Nigerians can collect their PVCs between 09:00 am and 03:00 pm daily, including Saturdays and Sundays.
INEC PVC collection. Photo: Punch
In a bid to ease difficulties in collecting PVCs, the commission approved the collection of the cards in 8,809 Registration Areas/Wards across the country.
“After January 15, 2023, the exercise will revert to the local government offices of the commission until January 22, 2023,” Mr Okoye said.
“Those who are unable to collect their PVCs at the local government offices of the commission can do so at the Registration Areas/Electoral Wards,” he added.
From November 28 to December 2 this year, INEC held a retreat in Lagos with its Administrative Secretaries and RECs from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.
PVC distribution in Kano
Residents in Kano state were seen approaching the distribution centre to pick up their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), as INEC commenced the distribution of cards, ahead of the 2023 general election.
Radio Nigeria’s correspondent in Kano, who visited several wards within the metropolitan local government’s areas, observed that there was a large turnout of eligible and valid registrants checking their names on the list before joining the queue.
The correspondent observed that the exercise was moving in an orderly manner at the INEC office in Kano municipal local government area, where paramilitary officials were seen at the gate controlling the crowd to ensure a hitch-free exercise.
Some of the valid registrants who spoke to Radio Nigeria, Peter Usman, Rilwanu Kankarofi and Hajara Lawal commended the smooth conduct of the exercise.
They, however, charged INEC officials, to collate the PVCs according to locations, as some had visited the office several times but their cards are yet to be found.
When contacted, the public relations officer of the commission in Kano, Adam Muhammad Maulud explained that the PVCs distribution has been taken closer to the people.
He said apart from local government offices, valid registrants can collect their cards across the 848 wards in the state, from January 7th to 17th January including Saturdays and Sundays.
Adam Maulud noted, there are over 200,000 uncollected permanent voters cards registered in 2019, which can also be collected from INEC local government offices across the state.
The public relations officer reiterated the commission’s commitment to conducting free and fair elections according to international standards.
Reporting by Khadija Aliyu and Fany Olumoye; Editing by Abdullahi Lamino and Tony Okerafor