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Tag: PVCs

  • INEC extends deadline for collection of PVCs

    INEC extends deadline for collection of PVCs

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for collection of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to Sunday.

    The earlier scheduled date was last Saturday, January 31, 2015.

    The extension, according to a statement by Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, was to give opportunity to registered voters, who are yet to collect their PVCs.

    The statement reads: “The INEC has extended the deadline for collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to Sunday, February 8, 2015.

    “This supersedes the earlier deadline of Saturday, January 31, 2015, and is intended to give registered voters yet to collect their PVCs the opportunity to do so in readiness for the February 2015 general elections.

    “INEC hereby calls on duly registered persons not to delay in going to collect their cards before the expiration of the new deadline.

    “The commission reaffirms its determination to make the 2015 elections free, fair, credible and peaceful; and urges all stakeholders, including voters, to spare no effort in working towards the same objective.”

    The commission has insisted that only voters with the PVCs would be allowed to vote at the general elections.

  • PVCs: PDP accuses INEC, APC of collusion 

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said there is a “deliberate attempt” by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disenfranchise its members and supporters in Lagos State by refusing to release their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to them.

    In a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, the PDP said the party has observed that INEC officials were working “hand in gloves” with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to frustrate the distribution of the PVCs in PDP strongholds as well as to non-indigenes in the state.

    The PDP described the development as “unacceptable, illegal and part of the criminal plot by the APC to hold on to power”.

    The ruling party reiterated its commitment to peaceful and credible elections, adding that “we will not accept any attempt to scheme us out in any state or states controlled by the APC”.

    “The APC has been jittery over the increasing popularity of President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP governorship candidate, Olujimi Agbaje.

    Stating that INEC had refused to check the trend despite repeated concerns raised by its state chapter and other well meaning Nigerians, the PDP said the onus now lies on INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega and the leadership of the commission to prove their innocence by intervening and ensuring that all eligible voters in the state receive their PVCs.

  • ‘PVCs may be distributed at polling units’

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is considering the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) at polling units.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Akin Orebiyii, said this after a meeting with the State Council of Obas and Chiefs in Ikeja.

    Orebiyii said that over 1.7 million PVCs of eligible voters, who registered in 2011, had not been claimed by their owners since the distribution began.

    “We have received four million cards and about 2.3 million people have come out to collect their cards while 1.7 million have not been collected.

    “We are still expecting 600,000 cards from 2011 registration and for 2014; we have outstanding of about 1.4 million, totaling about 5.9 million registered voters.

    “Shortly, these outstanding cards will arrive and we will add them to the ones we are distributing.

    “We are also thinking of moving, if possible, away from the 245 Collation Centres to the 8,465 Polling Units so as to reach more people.”

  • APC accuses PDP, DSS of planning to rig poll

    APC accuses PDP, DSS of planning to rig poll

    The Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Department of State Security (DSS) of colluding with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the governorship election.

    The party also accused the security agency of plotting to clamp down on its members over trumped-up allegations of operating fake voters register and issuing fake permanent voter cards (PVCs).

    The Chairman, Dr. Hillary Eke, said the allegation by the DSS that the APC, at the instance of Governor Rochas Okorocha, was registering voters to issue them fake PVCs, was part of the plot to bring the party into disrepute.

    He said APC, as a progressive party, which has set a record of performance, could not indulge in illegality, adding that the position of the DSS on the matter had confirmed the fear that the agency was partisan.

    Eke said: “APC has done well in the state. We have no cause to worry. The activities of the DSS are unbecoming. How can they make such allegations without investigations? It shows where they are heading. But APC will rely on the votes of the electorate and not on manipulation.”

    The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Chidi Ibe, criticised the DSS on the purported illegal voter registration, saying it was partisan.

    He said its action could undermine the elections.

    According to him, to allege that the governor and APC were behind the fake voters register without investigation, showed that the DSS was partisan.

    “This is not right for our democracy. They should allow the electorate to determine who wins the election.”

    Okorocha described the allegation as unfounded and malicious.

  • INEC Distributes 993, 459 PVCs In Osun

    The headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the Staten of Osun has said it has distributed 993,459 (70.65 per cent)  out of 1,406,147 permanent voters cards in the state.

    The State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Adekunle Ogunmola, who was just deployed to the state, spoke on Friday at his maiden press briefing, saying, 412,688 (29.35 per cent) of the cards were yet to be distributed.

    He added that the distribution of the PVC would stop at the end of January, noting that the commission has extended the distribution of the cards to ward level to ensure that more people get it.

    Ogunmola also stressed that Saturdays have now been included in the days for the distribution of PVCs, while the closing times have been extended.

    The INEC boss also said the state office of the commission has so far received 2,133 Voter Card Readers, while the rest are yet to be deployed, saying, the commission would use the available ones to start training of officials that would work with them.

    He said, 3,960 Plastic Ballot Boxes have so far been deployed to the state and were in the store of the commission.

    Ogunmola added that the commission has started voters’ enlightment, while workshop would also be organised for all categories of people.

    On allegation of bias against his predecessor, Ambassador Rufus Akeju, the REC described his predecessor as a man of integrity, but a victim of bad politics on the side of those castigating him.

    Wondering why politicians would go extra mile to blame “such thorough bred diplomat” when they could not achieve their aims, he said, “it is unfortunate that the kind of politics we play in this country is quite dirty.

    “He is a man of integrity, but he was misunderstood,” he said.

     

  • Thieves return 983 stolen PVCs in Edo

    SOME thieves who stole 3,661 Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) in Orhiomwon Local Government Area of Edo State have returned 983 of the stolen PVCs. It will be recalled that a total of 4,658 PVCs were stolen at distribution points in nine local government areas of the state. The thieves were said to have dumped the cards at two polling units and called INEC officials to go and collect them. The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Barr. Mike Igini, disclosed this yesterday at a stakeholders forum, held at the National Orientation Agency office in Benin, the state capital.

    Barr. Igini urged the thieves to return the remaining PVCs to enable the rightful owners participate in the elections. He said, “I received anonymous calls, saying that they were going to return those permanent voters cards. As I speak to you, as at yesterday, we have received the stolen cards from Orhionmwon local government area.

    That is good news. “While 661 cards were recovered from Urhonigbe North, 322 cards were retrieved from Urhonigbe South polling units.” Igini informed the gathering that the commission was also set to receive 1,426 PVCs for inter and intra state transfers, and added that a total of 1,046,960 PVcs have been distributed in the state. He noted that the major challenge facing the commission was not the collection of the PVCs, but how to mobilise the over one million eligible voters in Edo State to participate in the elections. The Edo REC also disclosed that a total of 1,861 card readers have been received by the commission, and expressed displeasure that none of the political parties in the state had registered their agents with the commission since they were notified a year ago. Leaders of the various political parties present at the event signed a pact for violence-free elections.

  • 858,040 PVCs distributed in Ondo

    858,040 PVCs distributed in Ondo

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said of the 1,317,497 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) sent to Ondo State, 858,040 have been collected.

    It added that the over 4,500 Smart Card Readers (SCRs) to be used at the 3,007 polling units had arrived in the state.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Olusegun Agbaje, said there is ongoing distribution of PVCs at the wards from 8:30am to 5.30 pm on Monday to Saturday and 2pm to 5pm on Sunday.

    Agbaje, analysing the number of those who collected their PVCs in each local government, said:” In Akoko North East, 36,269 have been collected of the 56,357 received by the council.

    “In Akoko North West, 53,258 were received but 38,480 had been distributed so far. In Akoko South East, 24,094 were received, 16,052 distributed.

    “In Akoko South West, 72,745 received, 48,535 distributed. Akure North, 49,285 received, 33,723 distributed. Akure South, 227,725 received, 132,612 distributed so far. In Ese-Odo, 51,237 received, 43,280 distributed.

    “Idanre, 57,497 received, 34,608 distributed so far, Ifedore, 52,865 received, 27,900 distributed. In Ilaje, 103,663 received, 99,674 distributed. Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo, 55,172 received, 36,751. Irele, 49,603 received, 38,284 distributed.

    “Odigbo, 96,304 received, 56,384 distributed. In Okitipupa, 81,354 received, 50,995 distributed. Ondo East, 31,299 received, 17,544 distributed. Ondo West 120,790 received, 73,338 distributed. Ose, 47,500 received, 27,898 distributed and Owo, 86,749 received, 45,713 collected.”

  • Uduaghan: collect your PVCs

    Uduaghan: collect your PVCs

    Delta Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has raised the alarm over the non -collection of over 700, 000 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in the state.

    Uduaghan spoke at a PDP campaign rally at Akwukwu-Igbo, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State at the weekend.

    Uduaghan observed that the large turnout of Deltans at PDP-organised rallies was good, but, asserted that such support could only be transformed to victory for the PDP if the people had their PVCs.

    While commending the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for decentralising the collection points of the PVCs, Uduaghan said about 1.2 million PVCs had been distributed in Delta State.

    His words: “About seven hundred thousand Permanent Voter Cards have not been collected in Delta State. Please, it is good for us to attend rallies to show our strength, and it is also very important for us to vote and the only way we can vote for our party’s candidates is by having our PVCs. We don’t want our party to lose one vote in Delta. So, collect your PVCs to enable you vote.”

  • ‘50% of Imo voters yet to get PVCs’

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed yesterday that about 50 per cent of eligible voters in Imo State were yet to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    It said the cards would not be distributed in some wards in 11 local governments of the 27 councils. The exercise starts today.

    The affected local governments include Oru East, Okigwe, Ohaji/Egbema, Ezinihitte, Isu, Obowo, Nkwerre, Njaba, Ngor Okpala, Ideato South and Orsu.

    Speaking at a news conference at the INEC state headquarters, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Gabriel Ada, said the PVCs were yet to arrive in the state, adding that this is worrisome.

    His words: “The statistics of the card distribution are still below 60 per cent. This does not augur well for the participatory democracy we anticipate. It is unacceptable to the commission.”

    Ada noted: “The commission has recommended that we go back to the field for another 10 days to distribute these PVCs to their owners, but at the registration area (ward) level. This is to ensure that every Nigerian is given the opportunity to vote.”

    He said the cards would not be collected by proxy, but would be issued to the owners at the collection points.

  • Don’t sell your PVCs, rights group tells voters

    Elligible voters have been urged to resist selling their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) to politicians or casting votes along ethnic lines.

    Executive Director of Centre for the Vulnerable and the Underprivileged (CENTREP), Oghenejabor Ikimi, gave the warning in a statement.

    Ikimi allayed fears of possible breakdown of law and order during the electioneering process, saying Nigerians were now better informed on national issues.

    The rights group appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies to be “neutral in carrying out their duties prior to, during and after the elections”.

    It called on politicians and political parties to resist the lures of election malpractices.

    On threats of violence, if candidates of some political parties lose in the elections, the group described the threats as empty. It noted that “Nigeria is bigger than individual candidates and their parties”.