THE Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday raised fears and displeasure about the upcoming 2023 elections following the 20 million Permanent Voters Cards which are yet to be claimed by their owners. The commission also lamented the poor participation of citizens in the ongoing continuous voters’ registration exercise.
INEC’s Deputy Director Mrs. Mary Nkem stated in Abuja during the launch of the PVC Bus Drive project, organized by a non-governmental organization, the Advocacy for Civic Engagement. She called on Nigerians, especially the youth, to be involved in the process of electing new leaders actively and to stop living on social media as the election will not be conducted there but physically, hence their active participation is very much needed. According to her, it is voting and not social media that would determine the winners of the 2023 general elections. “This CVR exercise began on June 30, 2021; but we have discovered that between that time and a few weeks ago, the turnout has been relatively low.
INEC disclosed that in Ondo State a large number of about 296, 965 PVCs are yet to be collected in the state. The commission noted that previously printed PVCs uncollected are still available for collection by the owners at the 18 local government INEC offices in the state This information was disclosed by Dr. Akeju while he was interviewed by journalists on Wednesday. He stated further that;
A total of 21,749 PVCs were received by electorates in the state for the first and second phases of the CVR exercise and are currently being distributed at our various local government area offices. Those who registered during these phases are to use this opportunity to collect their PVCs. However, 296,965 previously printed PVCs uncollected are still available for collection by the rightful owners at the various Local Government INEC Offices.
INEC has further made their displeasure known about the similar low turnout in the south-east, especially in Ebonyi State with a total number of 123,145 registered PVC. He stated while giving out figures from the five states in the southeast i.e. Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia, and Ebonyi. The commission further urged Nigerians to be the change they want to see by doing the little they can through their voting rights.
All Nigerians of age are advised to vote and the only way to go about this is to get your PVCs.
