The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the collection of Permanent Voters Card from its local government offices by an additional one week. In a statement from the commission signed by the National Commissioner, Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, thee exercise which was supposed to end on Sunday, January 29 will now end on Sunday, February 5.
The Commission said the extension became necessary as a result of the determination by the commission to ensure that many Nigerians obtain their voters card ahead of the general elections. It asked those who engaged in double registration not to bother to go to the INEC local government offices nationwide as the commission did not print their cards
The statement reads: “The Commission met today, Saturday, 28th January 2023, a day after its meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) from the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal capital Territory, Abuja and deliberated on a number of issues, including the reports from RECs on the ongoing collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in its 774 Local Government Offices nationwide.
“It will be recalled that at the meeting with RECs on Friday, 27th January 2023, the Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu indicated that the Commission will not hesitate to consider additional measures to ensure that all citizens have ample opportunity to collect their PVCs ahead of the General Election.
“Having reviewed reports from all the States of the Federation, the Commission is encouraged by the progress made so far as more Nigerians troop out daily to collect their PVCs. Arising from reports from the various States and discussions with Resident Electoral Commissioners, the Commission has decided to further extend PVC collection in all its Local Government Offices nationwide by an additional one week.
(The Nation)