Ahead of Nigeria’s next year’s general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday noted that citizens who participated in the voters’ registration exercise which was completed two months ago would be able to collect their Permanent Voters Cards from December 12, 2022.
This was confirmed in a statement that was sighted by Africa Today News, New York on Friday.
According to the statement, the Commission had on Thursday, December 1 2022 held a meeting where it deliberated on a number of issues, including the dates for the collection of Permanent Voters Cards nationwide.
Africa Today News, New York had earlier reported that the Commission held a retreat in Lagos with all the Administrative Secretaries and Resident Electoral Commissioners from the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory from November 28 to December 2, 2022. At the retreat, the Commission finalised the procedure as well as the timetable for the collection of PVCs.
The statement which was signed by the commissioner in charge of voters education, Festus Okoye partly reads, ‘Consequently, the Commission has fixed Monday 12 December 2022 to Sunday 22 January 2023 as the dates for the collection of PVCs in all the 774 Local Government Offices of the Commission throughout the Federation.
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It further added; ‘The Commission also resolved to devolve PVC collection to the 8,809 Registration Areas/Wards from Friday 6th to Sunday 15th January 2023. Those that are unable to collect their PVCs at the Local Government Offices of the Commission can do so at the Registration Areas/Electoral Wards. After the 15th of January 2023, the exercise will revert to the Local Government Offices of the Commission until January 22, 2023.
‘All eligible and valid registrants can collect their PVCs from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm daily, including Saturdays and Sundays.
‘All the RECs and Electoral Officers have been directed to convene a meeting with the critical stakeholders in their States and Local Government Areas, including traditional and religious leaders, civil society groups, community-based organisations and the media to brief them on the modalities for the collection of the PVCs in order to sensitise the public and ensure seamless exercise.
‘Similarly, RECs and EOs have also been directed to set up help desks to assist registrants with complaints about their PVCs or with the PVC collection procedure for immediate redress.
‘The Commission appreciates the patience and understanding of Nigerians, especially those who registered as voters or applied for transfer/replacement of their cards from January to July 2022. In making the cards available for collection, the Commission is also working to ensure that the process is simple and hitch-free for Nigerians.’
Africa Today News, New York reports that the electoral umpire has always reiterated its resolve to deliver credible elections in 2023.