By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says the devolution of PVC collection to the Registration Areas/Wards across Nigeria commences (today) Friday, January 6, 2023.
In a statement signed by Barrister Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee and made available to journalists in Abuja on Thursday in Abuja, the Commission said that the collection of PVCs at Wards level would end on January 15.
Okoye said all validly registered voters who are yet to collect their PVCs are encouraged to seize the opportunity of the devolution to the wards to do so.
Prompt News recall that the Commission held a retreat in Lagos with all the Administrative Secretaries and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) from the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory from November 28 to December 2, 2022.
At the retreat, the Commission finalised the procedure as well as the timetable for collection of PVCs and consequently the collection of PVCs commenced in all the 774 Local Government Offices of the Commission throughout the Federation.
The Commission also resolved to devolve PVC collection to the 8,809 Registration Areas/Wards from Friday 6th to Sunday 15th January 2023.
After the January 15, 2023, the exercise will revert to the Local Government Offices of the Commission until January 22, 2023.
All eligible and valid registrants can collect their PVCs from 9.00am to 3.00pm daily, including Saturdays and Sundays.
All those that applied for replacement of lost, damaged, or defaced PVCs can collect their PVCs at the Registration Area/wards during this period and the same thing applies to those that registered prior to the 2019 general election and are yet to collect their cards.
The PVCs of those that applied for transfer are available for collection in the Local Governments and Registration Areas where they intend to vote and not in the State or Local Government where they carried out the transfer.
The Commission appreciates the patience and understanding of Nigerians who trooped to our various Local Government Offices to collect their PVCs. In making the cards available for collection, the Commission is also working to ensure that the process is simple and hitch-free for Nigerians.
