PVCs collection: Mad rush as Jan 22 deadline approaches

There is a mad rush for the collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) by registrants ahead of the January 22, 2023 deadline announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).  Daily Trust observed that residents thronged the designated centres as early as 7am yesterday and waited for two hours before the exercise finally kicked off […]

There is a mad rush for the collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) by registrants ahead of the January 22, 2023 deadline announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). 

Daily Trust observed that residents thronged the designated centres as early as 7am yesterday and waited for two hours before the exercise finally kicked off by 9am.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had fixed Monday, December 12, 2022, to Sunday, January 22, 2023, as the dates for the collection of PVCs at its offices in the 774 local government areas of the country.

However, some of the registrants complained of the disorderliness caused by those who would not want to join the queue in the name of being ‘VIPs’ or security officers.

A visit to some of the centres by our correspondent yesterday showed that INEC officials were having a hectic time attending to the crowd with some seeking to be given preferential treatment.

In separate interviews with our correspondent, some of the registrants were unanimous in asking the INEC to increase the number of its staff to quicken the collection processes.

When contacted, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, told Daily Trust that, in a press statement the commission issued on December 2, 2022, it explained the process for collecting the PVCs.

“The commission also resolved to devolve PVC collection to the 8,809 registration areas/wards from Friday 6th to Sunday 15th January 2023 so that those that are unable to collect their PVCs at the local government offices of the commission could do so at the registration areas/electoral wards.

“But after 15th of January 2023, the exercise will revert to the local government offices of the commission until 22nd January 2023,” he said.