By NewsBits
Following series of challenges Nigerians are facing to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), which would enable them to perform their civil responsibilities come February 25, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has again extended the deadline for the collection of the PVCs.
The new date is Sunday, 5 February and it is the second time INEC will extend the deadline for PVC collection heading to the presidential election. The previous deadline was tomorrow, 29 January. In a statement on Saturday, Barrister Festus Okoye, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, said that the decision was taken after a meeting on Saturday.
He said: “The Commission met today, Saturday January 29, 2023, a day after its meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) from the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja and deliberated on a number of issues, including the reports from RECs on the ongoing collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in its 774 Local Government Offices nationwide.
“It will be recalled that at the meeting with RECs on Friday January 28, 2023, the Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu indicated that the Commission will not hesitate to consider additional measures to ensure that all citizens have ample opportunity to collect their PVCs ahead of the General Election.
“Having reviewed reports from all the States of the Federation, the Commission is encouraged by the progress made so far as more Nigerians troop out daily to collect their PVCs. Arising from reports from the various States and discussions with Resident Electoral Commissioners, the Commission has decided to further extend PVC collection in all its Local Government Offices nationwide by an additional one week.
“The ongoing collection of PVCs nationwide will therefore continue and end on 5th February 2023. This is the second time the Commission is extending PVC collection nationwide and this will be the last extension of the exercise. Collection period has further been extended by an additional two hours and will start at 9am and end at 5pm daily including Saturdays and Sundays”.
