TheCable

Ikechuckwu Emetu, deputy governor of Abia state, says thousands of permanent voter cards (PVCs) have been discovered in the office of the chairman of Ariaria international market, Aba.

According to Punch, Emetu spoke during the 10th edition of Vision Africa media training for journalists.

Emetu said the cards were discovered during a recent raid against extortion and illegal levies in the market.

“We are getting those guys off the streets and making arrests just like the chairman of Ariaria. He was arrested because we saw thousands of PVCs in his office. We just had to pick him up,” he said.

“And those who were into the act of robbing the market women, we had to pick them up because they were always collecting fees and tolls. I have no regrets being labelled King Harold if I am doing the right thing.”

Speaking with TheCable on Monday, Rotimi Oyekanmi, spokesperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said the electoral umpire is yet to know about the development.

He, however, assured that INEC will look into the matter.

Prior to the 2023 general election, there were reports of PVCs discovered in all kinds of places, including forests.

In July 2022, a video showing several PVCs buried somewhere in Imo went viral on social media.

In February, just days before the elections, a hunter reportedly found thousands of PVCs buried in a forest in the Nnewi area of Anambra state.