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Tag: Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC).

  • Oyo: 800,000 PVCs yet to be collected – INEC

    Despite the repeated calls on residents of Oyo state to collect unclaimed Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) , the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Barrister Mutiu Agboke has said about  800,000 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) are yet to be collected by the people.

    Barrister Agboke disclosed this at a stakeholders meeting for Ibarapa Zone held at the Eruwa Town Hall on Thursday.

    According to him, the commission is committed to conducting free, fair and acceptable elections in 2019.

    He explained that the electoral umpire is concerned with the thousands of PVCs which remained uncollected despite the frantic effort by the commission.

    He further lamented that rather than engaging in political campaigns by parties, what should be paramount in their agendas is to sensitize people on the need to collect their Permanent Voter’s Cards.

    In his words, “Without PVCs, there is no way any individual can exercise his or her civic responsibility during the general elections hence the need for INEC to intensify efforts in its sensitization programmes”.

    While appreciating the Ibarapa zone for their cooperation in the recent Ibarapa East State House of Assembly bye elections, the INEC chief said the task of ensuring credible elections cannot be left in the hands of government alone, hence the need for people to cooperate with the commission.

    On the issue of vote buying, Barrister Agboke assured that INEC will do everything within its power to eradicate vote buying in 2019 general elections, but called on politicians to desist from the dastardly act.

    Also in her remarks, the state Director, National Orientation Agency, (NOA), Mrs Dolapo Dosunmu emphasized on the need for people to eschew violence before, during and after the general elections.

    She explained that every stakeholder has a role to play at ensuring successful conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    Mrs Dosunmu called for more women participation in politics by contesting in 2019 general elections.

    Read Also: INEC bars Buhari, Atiku, others from campaigning till Nov. 18

    Some Council Chairmen and political stakeholders in their remarks pledged their continuous support for the INEC at ensuring smooth conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    Earlier, the Oyo INEC REC, Barrister Mutiu Agboke had visited the palace of the Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Akindele where he solicited the support of the monarch in sensitizing people on the collection of the PVCs.

    The Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Akindele commended Barrister Mutiu Agboke and his team for his giant strides since assumption into office. The monarch also urged the INEC not relent on its efforts at ensuring one man, one vote clamored by the institution.

    This according to Eleruwa would strengthen the Nigerian nascent democracy.

    The meeting had in attendance traditional rulers, religious leaders, Community leaders and members of the political class.

  • PDP member tells electorate to obtain Permanent Voter’s Card

    A Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) chieftain in Plateau, Mr Gwaman Datong, has urged the electorate to take part in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration ( CVR ) to empower them for voting in the 2019 general elections.

    In a statement issued in Abuja by him on Friday, he said taking part in the exercise was the only way the electorate could have their choice of leaders.

    “I have been going round and meeting people telling them to make sure that they get registered and obtain their Permanent Voter’s Card ( PVC ).

    “This is because we can’t make the change we desired without getting the PVC,’’ Dalong, who is seeking PDP’s nomination to contest the state governorship election in 2019.

    He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) to engage in more aggressive campaign towards sensitising the electorate to CVR.

    “We need strong running system that will give constant information, especially those at the grassroots on the exercise,’’ Datong said.

    Stating his plan for the state if he became the governor of Plateau, Datong said his vision was to lay a solid foundation for the development of the state.

    “We will start by encouraging science education right from primary school because am looking at building for the future.

    “We are going to encourage going to the sciences because in the nearest future, we will have people to build the future for Plateau.

    Read Also: Southwest PDP tackles APC

    “Am not looking at the agricultural sector in terms of produce alone but how do we process the produce a little to add value.

    “I visited an incubation centre in Jos and I was shown carrot oil, I was surprised, because this is what we can harness as we have lots of carrots in the state.

    “So if we can work towards processing our carrots to a certain level, we will make lots of money from both internal and export market.

    “We also have lots of yam in the state, people come and buy them remove the water and send them back to us as yam powder; we can start processing them locally to make extra money,’’ Datong said.

    “Similarly, emphasis should be on women development programmes because women constitute more than 50 per cent of the population in the state,’’ Datong said.

    NAN

  • INEC takes PVC’s campaign to rural communities in Jigawa

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) in Jigawa has taken its campaign on acquisition of Permanent Voters’ Card ( PVC ) to rural communities.

    Alhaji Bilal Sabo, the INEC Officer in Gwaram Local Government Area of the state disclosed this at a stakeholders meeting on Wednesday.

    He stressed the need for rural dwellers in the state to acquire the PVC to enable them exercise their civic right.

    Read Also: 7.9m PVC uncollected, says INEC

    He urged Traditional Rulers in the area to enlighten their subjects on the need to acquire their PVCs ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Sabo was quoted by the council’s Information Officer, Malam Nasiru Yusif, as saying the commission had so far registered 7,650 voters in the area in ongoing nationwide Continues Voters Registration ( CVR ).

    “The Gwaram LG INEC office has so far registered 7,650 electorates,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Democracy, best form of government for Nigeria – NOA

    Democracy, best form of government for Nigeria – NOA

    Dr Garba Abari, the Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), says democracy remains the best form of government for Nigeria given the nation’s unique composition, history and international relevance.

    Abari said this in a congratulatory message signed by Mr Paul Odenyi, Head, Press Unit, NOA, to Nigerians on the 2017 Democracy Day that marked 18 years of unbroken democratic governance in the clountry.

    He said that this year’s democracy day is symbolic based on the fact that young Nigerians who were only born when we returned to democratic governance have now turned 18.

    “They have come of age to participate fully in the democratic processes of our nation.

    “Therefore, our concern at this time should be to deepen such acceptable societal values and advance such principles of governance that will not only enable our great nation further assert itself as the leader of African continent.

    “Where rights and freedoms are sacrosanct but also ensure that we bequeath to our future generations the best form of governance. Only democracy can guarantee that,” Abari said.

    He also urged Nigerians to use the 2017 democracy day to recommit themselves to their civic duty of participating fully in electoral processes because free and fair elections are the foundations of any true democracy.

    Abari therefore urged Nigerians of 18 years and above who do not yet possess a Permanent Voters Card (PVC) to take advantage of the on-going Continuous Voter Registration exercise across the country to register.

  • Buhari swears in 6 INEC Commissioners, expresses concern over electoral processes

    Buhari swears in 6 INEC Commissioners, expresses concern over electoral processes

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday swore in six Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and expressed concern over the integrity of the nation’s electoral processes.

    The president charged the commissioners to be firm and fair in the discharge of their duties, urging them to help consolidate the integrity of the electoral body.

    “This administration is extremely concerned with the integrity of the electoral processes. You are people of great integrity, renowned throughout the country. This administration will depend on you to be firm and fair.

    “What this administration expects is that after we have gone, that Nigerians will read in our political history, that we respect Nigerians.

    “We woo Nigerians to use his Permanent Voters Card (PVC), cross checked by the card reader, that they have been given the opportunity.

    ”The security in their respective constituencies to elect those they want to elect, the rest is left to their conscience and to God.’’

    The president, who frowned at the way by-elections were conducted in some states of the federation, said government would continue to ensure violent-free elections in the country.

    He congratulated the commissioners for their new appointments.

    Responding on behalf of the commissioners, Mr Okechukwu Ibeano, pledged that they would discharge their duties diligently.

    He also thanked the president and Nigerians for giving them the opportunity to serve the nation.

    “On behalf of my five colleagues, I thank the President and Nigerians for giving us this special and challenging opportunity to serve this country.

    “We pledge to discharge our duties, responsibilities and functions as contained in the oath of allegiance and oath of office which we have just sworn to.

    “We seek the support and prayers of the government and people of Nigeria so that we can discharge our functions to the best of our abilities and contribute to improve the advances and achievements that have been recorded in our electoral processes so far.

    The six INEC commissioners sworn in by the president are Okechukwu Obinna Ibeanu (Anambra), May I. Agbamuche-Mbu (Delta) and retired AVM Ahmed Mu’Azu from Gombe state.

    Others are Mohammed Kudu Haruna (Niger), Mr Adekunle Ogunmola (Oyo) and Abubakar Nahuche from Zamfara.

  • 40 Beninese arrested with PVCs in Lagos

    40 Beninese arrested with PVCs in Lagos

    The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has said it nabbed 40 Beninese in Lagos who were in possession of the country’s Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC).

    This is just as the service disclosed that 380 Nigerians were deported for immigration and other offences in May.

    Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) in charge of Lagos and Ogun States, Musa Maza stated this on Wednesday during a visit of Chinese Youths Association (CYA) to his office in Alausa.

    Maza who said the arrest was made in May at Seme Border, Badagry, added that the suspects resided in different areas of the state.

    According to him, the suspects have been handed over to the Beninnese security forces for further investigation and prosecution.

    “The eagle-eyed immigration officers were able to apprehend 40 ECOWAS nationals who were mainly Beninese and in possession of the Nigerian PVCs. These cards were seized from them.

    Of the 380 Nigerians deported, Maza said 311 were repatriated through regular scheduled flights, when 69 were boarded on special flights.

    “From the sea port, 1,171 foreign nationals arrived on our shores between 5 and 11 May, while 941 foreigners departed from Nigeria to their countries.

    “From the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, we recorded some deportees; 380 Nigerians were deported for immigration and other offences from various countries in the month of May. 311 of them were deported on regular scheduled flights, while 69 were deported aboard a special flight.

    “Normal arrival, a total of 97,133 passengers arrived during this period. They consist of 72,699 Nigerians and 24,434 other nationals. A breakdown of the arrivals showed that 14,043 visitors came into the country last month while 4,787 residents came back through the MMIA.

    “The departed people were 77,090 passengers. While 57,979 of them were Nigerians, 19,111 were other nationals.

    “Then, on the reports from our border patrols, a total of 91 irregular immigrants were refused entry into the country in the month of May, while 60 Nigerians who were in possession of valid travelling documents were refused departures,” he stated.

    On the visit of the Chinese youths, Maza said it was to boost the business relationship between both nations.

    He said: “The essence of this visit is to give recognition and to appreciate each other’s contributions towards ensuring a free flow of business activities. We all know that the government of the day is serious about encouraging investments from abroad. Investors are being wooed to come over here to do business with us in order to improve the economy of this country.

    “And it is in line with this principle that the NIS, Zone A, have continually demonstrated her resolve to assist genuine investors that come into our country to do business. We have actually been very friendly with the Chinese. We have created very conducive atmosphere for their businesses to flourish.

    “I want to quickly add that we do this without compromising the extant laws and regulations of the NIS. In effect, we constantly and solidly emphasis on the need for maximum compliance, and to the best of our knowledge in our interactions with them, the Chinese have been very compliant, and that is why we identify with them.

    In his remark, President, CYA , Isaac Zeng, said the Chinese were satisfied with the reception of Nigerians towards them and their businesses.

    He said: “Any Nigerian who wants to do business in China should get the certificates and bring the FDI. I have been in Nigeria since 2003. We are supporting Nigeria in all its policies.”