By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday said that Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) will be ready for collection from October 28 just as the Commission is
assuring the people of Anambra and critical stakeholders of its determination to proceed with the election on November 6, 2021.
This much was disclosed in a press statement issued by Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner, and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee.
According to him registrants will be contacted through telephone calls, email and Short Messaging Services (SMS) for the collection of their PVCs, adding that Anambra Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji and his management staff will determine how best to ensure that registrants get their PVC.
Okoye also noted that in compliance with section 45 of the Electoral Act, 2010, the Commission urged the political parties to submit the full list of their party agents 14 days before the day fix for the election on November 6th.
According to the statement: ” Resident Electoral Commissioner for Anambra State and his staff shall work out the most efficient means of ensuring that the voters concerned collect their PVCs in earnest. Fortunately, the Commission has the telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of all the new registrants. They will be contacted to make the collection seamless.
”The Commission once again assures the people of Anambra State of its determination to proceed with the conduct of the election and appeals to all the critical stakeholders and citizens in the state to cooperate with the Commission for a successful exercise.
“Section 45 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) requires political parties participating in elections to submit the names and addresses of their Polling Agents, accompanied by two passport photographs and sample signatures of each Polling Agent to the Commission at least 14 days before the date fixed for the election. The last date for the submission of such list for the Anambra Governorship election was 21st October 2021”, it said.
Okoye reiterated that the Commission has made available a portal for political parties to upload the names and other details of their Polling Units agents as part of efforts to use technology to improve the process. He said after the Commission had successfully cleansed the voter’s register, the new PVCs collection date has been fix for October 28th.
He said: ” In line with the Commission’s avowed commitment to deepen the use of technology in elections, a dedicated portal was designed for political parties to upload the names and other details of their Polling Agents for Polling Units and all the three levels of collation (Registration Areas/Wards, Local Government Areas and State collation). A detailed breakdown of the submissions by political parties has been uploaded to the Commission’s website and social media platforms for public information.
“In our previous update, the Commission informed the public that a total of 138,802 Nigerians completed the registration in Anambra State.
“After a thorough cleaning up of the data, it was discovered that the number of multiple registrants was 62,698. Consequently, the number of valid registrants dropped to 76,104. During the same period, there were 5,674 requests for transfers, update of voter information, and replacement of lost or damaged cards, giving a cumulative total of 81,778 PVCs. These cards have been printed and will be delivered to our office in Anambra State on Thursday 28th October 2021”, he added.
