The Independent National Electoral Commission -INEC, has expressed fury over the viral video of a large consignment of Permanent Voter’s Card, PVCs, purportedly buried in the home of a highly-placed personality. INEC has declared that it had begun an investigation into the incident and promised to severely punish anyone involved in the act.
The electoral body made its stance on the matter known in a press statement on Thursday, by its National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye.
Below is the text of the statement posted on the official INEC Twitter handle:
“REPORT OF UNCOLLECTED PERMANENT VOTERS’ CARDS (PVCs) DISCOVERED IN INAPPROPRIATE LOCATIONS”
“The attention of the Commission has been drawn to videos trending online of Permanent Voters Cards -PVCs purportedly buried underground in various locations, like the compound of a high-profile person.
“The Commission will not be taking these allegations lightly. We have begun an immediate investigation and anyone found culpable in this diabolical scheme, clearly intended to disenfranchise Nigerians will be sanctioned under the law. Every eligible Nigerian who registered as a voter is entitled to his/her PVC. The constitutional right to vote in any election must never be suppressed or abridged in any way.”
“As far as the record of the Commission is concerned. PVCs have been printed for all valid registrants in Nigeria up to 14th January 2022 and delivered to all the States of the Federation for collection by voters. We will not allow retrogressive elements to sabotage our efforts.”
