The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, enjoined those who fear that non-availability of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) will hurt next month’s general elections to have a rethink. Reason: All the cards have been printed and are ready for collection.
The Pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, on Wednesday after a four-hour meeting in Akure, country home of its chairman, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, lamented that more than 15 million voters had not collected their cards and 14 million voters cards were yet to arrive the country.
It said non-distribution of 30 million PVCs, about half of the over 60 million registered voters will not lead to a credible election.
Indeed, the polity has been awash with hiccups trailing the collection of the PVCs, which prompted calls for postponement of the polls from some quarters.
Speaking on the issues, yesterday, Mr Kayode Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to INEC National Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, said it was not true that 14 million PVCs were yet to be printed.
His words: "All the PVCs have been printed. Altogether, 68.8 PVCs were printed. We have received 65 million PVCs which are out for distribution. The remaining 3.8 million PVCs will be out there between tomorrow (today) and Friday."
To ensure hitch-free polls, INEC urged would-be-voters who are yet to collect their PVCs to do so, warning those without the cards not to come to the polling booths during the polls.
Speaking at a stakeholders consultative meeting towards a successful and violence-free 2015 election, hosted by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, the Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, Akin Orebiyi, threatened to arrest those found around polling units on election day without voters cards.
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