By Ishaq Dan-Imam, Lokoja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kogi state has called on citizens of Kogi state who are yet to, to come forward and collect their permanent voters cards (PVCs).
This follows the low rate of PVCs collection in the state despite INEC’s persistent calls on the citizens to come forward for the PVCs, few months to general elections.
About 250,000 voters cards (PVCs) have been issued to voters in the local government offices with 160,966 yet to collect theirs.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner, (REC), Dr Hale Gabriel Longpet told journalists and civil society organizations on Thursday that the Commission is worried by 160,966 uncollected PVCs.
According to him, there are about 1.9 million registered voters, adding that as at 2nd of December 2022, out of 154,984 voters cards which were produced for voters who registered in 2019, only 13,689 were collected while 141,295 have not collected their 2019 voters card.
For the fresh registration between 2021 and June 2022, Longpet said the commission expected 38,505 people to come and collect their permanent voters card, but only 18,924 voters have collected their PVCs while 19,671 is yet to be uncollected.
“I have always used every opportunity to express my displeasure over the poor collection of PVCs in Kogi state. We have 32,508 people who transferred their PVC’s from one polling unit to another. But so far, we have seen only 5,977 who have come to collect those transferred PVCs. And You will agree with me that it is not an encouraging figure.”
Longpet implored the media and CSOs to take the message of INEC to the public on the need for improved turnout for collection of the PVCs in all nooks and crannies.
“We have started sensitizing people, engaging Civil Society Organization, Media to start helping people to come and collect their PVCs.
“While we hope for improvement in the rate PVCs collection in the state, we beg the good people of Kogi state who have not yet collected, to please come out in large number to collect their PVCs without further delay within the period of extension in our collective interest for participatory democracy, free and credible elections which is dependent on use of our PVCs.”
He assured Nigerians that INEC is prepared to deliver transparent, free and fair elections devoid of electoral manipulation as the introduction of BVAS is aimed at putting an end to electoral malpractice.
