ASHENEWS reports that the Independent National Electronic Commission (INEC) has expressed concern that 6.7 million PVCs remain uncollected in 17 states, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The concern, which is about avoiding repeat of voter apathy, is coming barely less than two months to January 22 deadline for the collection of the PVCs.
According to data from the 2019 presidential election, the 6.7 million uncollected PVCs would have been sufficient to determine the outcome of an election in which winner Muhammadu Buhari received 15 million votes and his main opponent, Atiku Abubakar, received 11.2 million votes.
Uncollected PVCs by states
As of December 29, Lagos state had the most uncollected PVCs, with 1,693,963 cards.
Since card collection began on December 12, the Lagos state INEC office has reported 14,000 collections per day.
INEC Director of Voter Education in Lagos state, Mrs. Adenike Tadeshe hoped that taking the cards to wards and local governments will help with card collection.
“Now, by January 15 and 16, we will be taking the cards to all the 245 wards in Lagos, and from there to the local government areas, so this will bring the cards closer to the people for collection,” she told Punch Newspapers.
Uncollected PVCs by the states
There are 300,000 unclaimed PVCs in Ondo; 205,127 in Ekiti; 661,783 in Edo; 437,454 in Osun; 49,000 in Plateau; 231,900 in Gombe; 132 623 in Anambra; 200,000 in Adamawa, and 409,604 in Cross River.
Others are 700,000 in Oyo; 80,117 in Borno; 400,000 in Ogun; 300,000 in Imo; 160,966 in Kogi, and 120,602 in Kwara.
