TheCable

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed dates for prospective voters to collect their permanent voter cards (PVC).

In a statement on Friday, Festus Okoye, INEC’s national commissioner and chairman, information and voter education committee, said the commission met on Thursday and deliberated on a number of issues, including the dates for PVC collection.

Okoye said the commission has fixed December 12, 2022 to January 22, 2023 as the dates for the collection of the PVCs in all the 774 LGAs.

He added that all valid registrants can collect their PVCs from 9am to 3pm daily — including Saturdays and Sundays.

“The Commission also resolved to devolve PVC collection to the 8,809 Registration Areas/Wards from Friday 6th to Sunday 15th January 2023,” the statement reads.

“Those that are unable to collect their PVCs at the Local Government Offices of the Commission can do so at the Registration Areas/Electoral Wards. After the 15th of January 2023, the exercise will revert to the Local Government Offices of the Commission until 22nd January 2023.

“All the Resident Electoral Commissioner (RECs )and Electoral Officers (EOs) have been directed to convene a meeting with the critical stakeholders in their States and Local Government Areas, including traditional and religious leaders, civil society groups, community-based organisations and the media to brief them on the modalities for the collection of the PVCs in order to sensitise the public and ensure seamless exercise.

“Similarly, RECs and EOs have also been directed to set up help desks to assist registrants with complaints about their PVCs or with the PVC collection procedure for immediate redress.

“The Commission appreciates the patience and understanding of Nigerians, especially those who registered as voters or applied for transfer/replacement of their cards from January to July 2022. In making the cards available for collection, the Commission is also working to ensure that the process is simple and hitch-free for Nigerians.”