Group advise  INEC to  address non availability of PVCs of registers people

Stanley Ihedigbo

Initiative For Ideal Development And Emancipatory Leadership In Nigeria (IDEAL-NIGERIA) has advised the electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to speedily address the issue of non availability of Permanent Voting Cards (PVCs) of some registrants which have been reported for subsequent replacement in Abia State.

Speaking with The Mirror,  the Group Executive Director, Pastor Nwokocha Anozie Innocent, advised that it is key that anyone whose PVC is yet to be out should be reassured that he or she will have his or her  before the deadline.

He further said that the commission should put  things in  place to speedily address the non availability of PVCs in the state because there are a  lot of complaints.

He noted that the exercise so far is progressing with some degrees of complaints and observations.

“We  visited WARD 3 (Girls Secondary School Aba Owerri Road Aba) in Osisioma L.G.A in Abia State.  The exercise must as a matter of necessity provide a system where people write down their names on a special register dedicated for this purpose at the Registration Area (WARD) through the desk officer there before leaving the venue.

He further said that the idea of reporting late to work by INEC staff outside the 9 a:m window and itching to go back to the office once it is 3 pm should be addressed immediately bearing in mind that office workers are the ones mostly affected by this.

“Hence the need to tactically extend the time in order to accommodate the loss hour subject to late arrival.

“We advised State governments should declare few days of public holidays to enable the citizens particularly office workers and traders to go get their PVCs. The citizens generally should as a matter of urgency, defy the stress and inconveniences likely associated with the process of collection to get their PVCs ready ahead of the 2023 general elections which is just few days ahead.

“The electoral umpire should ensure that adhoc staff are readily available to aid in the distribution and collection of PVCs exercise across board. The human rights and good governance group recognizes as well as meaning citizens , the efforts of the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, the VEP Director and the Electoral Officers who have shown strong commitment in turn around time response to issues raised by citizens and strongly believe that the issue of time raised above will be accorded immediate attention.

“The level of enthusiasm and passion the citizens have shown in this period of collection of PVC can only be described as legendary and as an organization, ” the Human Rights activist explained .