INEC to quarantine uncollected PVCs after January deadline

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday declared that incident forms would not be used during forthcoming general elections

Besides, the Commission announced that all uncollected permanent voter cards (PVCs) after the deadline of 8th January, 2019, would be quarantined until after the elections to avoid any party or individual having access to the cards.

INEC National Commissioner in-charge of Enugu and Anambra states, Mr. Festus Okoye made the clarifications during an interactive session with traditional rulers and leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Enugu state.

Okoye: “Where the biometric authentication fails, the voter will be required to thumbprint a box next to his/her picture on the register and to enter his/her mobile telephone number before proceeding to vote. The Commission has modified the Register of Voters for the 2019 General Elections accordingly.

“Consequently, the separate Incident Form used in previous elections which is only completed by the Presiding Officer without the involvement of the voter is now abolished.

“Collection of PVC ends on 8th February 2019. After that, INEC in every state will mop up uncollected PVCs and give account to the political parties. And after that the PVC s will be deposited at the Central Bank Nigeria (CBN) or any other safe place agreed by the stakeholders (political parties).”

Also, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Enugu State, Dr. Emeka Ononamadu said that collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) had been progressing, noting that “currently, as at January 8, the total uncollected PVCs in Enugu State stood at 383,281 while the total collected PVCs stood at 1,559,495.”

In a remark, Chairman, Council of Traditional Rulers in Enugu State, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, assured INEC that the royal fathers would continue to partner with INEC to ensure peaceful and credible election.
“We have vowed to deal with anybody in our domain with a plan to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the election,’’ Agubuzu said.