The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has unveiled its comprehensive strategy to ensure the availability of Uncollected Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) ahead of the upcoming off-cycle elections later this year. The announcement came during the Commission’s second quarterly meeting with the media held at its headquarters in Abuja.
During the meeting, the Chairman of INEC reiterated the Commission’s unwavering commitment to facilitating robust voter participation in the electoral process. As part of this initiative, the Commission disclosed plans to publish the list of uncollected PVCs both in its offices and on its official website in the coming days. This measure aims to streamline the process for voters to locate and collect their cards efficiently.
Emphasizing the significance of personal collection, the chairman underscored that no PVCs would be collected by proxy, urging registered voters to retrieve their cards in person. Furthermore, the Commission clarified that the final list of candidates for the upcoming off-cycle elections in Edo has been published following the conclusion of party primaries and the withdrawal/substitution period.
Campaign activities by political parties in public commenced on April 24th, 2024, and will conclude 24 hours before the election date as mandated by law. In preparation for the Edo elections, media organizations have been urged to promptly apply for accreditation to cover the event. The Commission stressed the importance of adhering to the designated deadline and meeting accreditation criteria to ensure smooth processing.
Addressing outstanding bye-elections, the Commission announced vacancies in four states, including State Assembly and Federal Constituency seats. Dates for bye-elections in these constituencies will be announced once preparations are finalized.
Additionally, the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise is set to take place in Edo and Ondo States simultaneously from May 27th to June 5th, 2024. Eligible citizens who are not registered voters will have the opportunity to register, while registered voters can transfer their registration or replace lost/damaged cards. To accommodate the limited time before the elections, the registration will occur at ward levels and state headquarters, totaling 397 walk-in registration centers across the two states.
In preparation for the CVR exercise, training for at least 794 officials will commence soon. Detailed information on registration centers and procedures has been made available on the Commission’s website and social media platforms.
The chairman emphasized the pivotal role of the media in mobilizing prospective registrants for the CVR exercise, urging early registration to avoid last-minute rushes.
Collaboration with the media was also solicited to ensure the success of the registration exercise and subsequent electoral processes, highlighting the importance of voter participation in shaping the democratic process.
