The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo will begin distributing approximately 373,030 uncollected permanent voter cards (PVCs) on May 27. The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Anugbum Onuoha, announced this during a stakeholders’ meeting in Benin on the forthcoming Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
PVC collection and Continuous Voter Registration Exercise
Mr. Onuoha stated that the PVC collection exercise would be conducted alongside the CVR exercise, which is also scheduled to start on May 27. INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu has announced that the CVR exercise will begin in Edo and Ondo ahead of the governorship elections in these two states.
According to Mr. Onuoha, the number of registered voters in Edo is 2,501,081, with 2,128,288 PVCs collected and 373,030 PVCs remaining uncollected. The CVR and PVC collection will be a 10-day exercise from May 27 to June 5, running daily from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., including weekends. The exercise will be conducted in the 192 wards and at the state headquarters of INEC in Edo.
Call for Support
Mr. Onuoha appealed for the support of the media, civil society organizations (CSOs), traditional rulers, and religious leaders in encouraging voters to locate and pick up their PVCs. He emphasized the importance of this collaboration for the success of the exercise.
The Deputy Director of Voter Registry at INEC Abuja, Doris Kande-Wyom, provided stakeholders with a detailed overview of the CVR processes. She appealed to stakeholders to mobilize prospective registrants for the exercise. The meeting was attended by chairmen of political parties, religious leaders, traditional rulers, security agencies, and CSOs.
The REC explained that two officials, drawn from the commission and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), would manage each registration centre.
Bottom Line
The Edo State gubernatorial election has generated significant anticipation and attention. However, the overall success of the election will depend on the active participation of all stakeholders involved. Their engagement is crucial in ensuring a fair, transparent, and effective electoral process.
