INEC fixes dates for PVC collection

The Independent National Electoral Commission has said that the collection of Permanent Voter Cards will be decentralised to various wards from January 6, 2023.

The commission also said that PVC collection would commence at its offices in each of the 774 local government areas across the country from Monday 12 December 2022.

INEC, in a statement on Friday, said the decision was reached at its recent retreat in Lagos, where the procedure as well as the timetable for the collection of PVCs were finalised.

The statement, which was signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, indicated that the collection would be moved to the 8,809 Registration Area/Wards from January.

The statement read in part, “The commission has fixed Monday, December 12, 2022 to Sunday, January 22, 2023 as the dates for the collection of PVCs 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. Those that are unable to collect their PVCs at the Local Government Offices of the Commission can do so at the Registration Areas/Electoral Wards. After the 15th of January 2023, the exercise will revert to the Local Government Offices of the Commission until 22nd January 2023.

 “All eligible and valid registrants can collect their PVCs from 9.00am to 3.00pm daily, including Saturdays and Sundays.

“All the RECs and Electoral Officers have been directed to convene a meeting with the critical stakeholders in their States and Local Government Areas, including traditional and religious leaders, civil society groups, community-based organisations and the media to brief them on the modalities for the collection of the PVCs in order to sensitise the public and ensure seamless exercise.

 “Similarly, RECs and EOs have also been directed to set up help desks to assist registrants with complaints about their PVCs or with the PVC collection procedure for immediate redress.”