…holds meeting with RECs in Abuja
From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has confirmed that the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for the Edo State Governorship election scheduled to be held next month will be available for collection in all the 192 wards across the state.
” I am glad to report that all the cards have been printed and delivered to our office in Benin City. From there, they have been handed over to our Electoral Officers (EOs) for collection by voters.
“To ensure a seamless process, the cards will be available for collection in all the 192 Wards in the State where the last CVR took place from Thursday, 22nd August 2024, to Monday, 26th August 2024, from 9.00am to 5.00pm daily, including the weekend.
Thereafter, the collection will continue in our 18 Local Government offices across the State from Wednesday, 28th August 2024,, to Sunda,y, 8th September 20,24, from 9.00am to 5.00pm, including the weekends.
Detailed information on the dates and location of the 210 centres (192 Wards and 18 LGA offices) has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for public information,” he said.
The INEC Chairman also explained that his Commission has developed a register containing, among other information, the names and photographs of the 184,438 voters to ease the collection of their PVCs and the register has also been uploaded to the commission’s website (https://inecnigeria.org/?page_id=13804) to facilitate easy identification and collection of the cards Professor Mahmood Yakubu disclosed this at the meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners(RECs) held at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja today.
He emphasized the commission’s policy that the cards will not be distributed or collected by proxy but rather by personnel for voters who registered so that they do not end up in the wrong hands.
Professor Yakubu called on the registered voters who took their time to register during Continues Voter Registration (CVR) to also take their time to collect their PVCs in person.
“It is important to emphasise that the Commission’s policy that PVCs must be personally collected by registered voters has not changed. The cards will not be distributed or collected by proxy so that they do not end up in the wrong hands.
“We urge voters who took their time to register during the CVR to also take time to collect their PVCs in person and, most importantly, to come out on Election Day and vote for the party of their choice.
“Still as part of our preparations for the Edo State Governorship election, the soft copy of the final and comprehensive register of voters will be presented to each political party fielding candidates in the election tomorrow, Tuesday 20th August 2024, in our State office in Benin City. This is in fulfilment of item 10 of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election,” he further explained.
He said that the Commission is also working on the schedule for the collection of PVCs in Ondo State but their attention is focused on the Edo State at the moment because the election is holding next month.
He also assured the electorate in Ondo State that action is being taken in respect of the availability of their PVCs for the governorship election held in November this year,, and very soon, the Commission will make available detailedarrangementsts for the collection of PVCs for all categories of voters from the recent CVR in the State.
The Chairman of INEC also seized the opportunity and reminded media organisations seeking to cover the Edo State Governorship election that the accreditation portal (https://imap.inecnigeria.org) closes at 6.00pm on Thursday 5th September 2024. Observing that only 63 media organisations have uploaded the details of 584 personnel for accreditation for the election.
He urged all interested organisations that are yet to apply to note the deadline and act accordingly.
“Already, the Commission has published the final list of candidates, accredited observers as well as polling and collation agents.
“At the end of the deadline for media accreditation, the list of organisations and accredited personnel will also be published for public information,” he concluded.