INEC makes PVCs available from 12th December

From Monday 12th December, Nigerians will be able to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in each of the country’s 774 Local Government Areas (LGAS). This will last till 22nd January, 2023.

In a statement on Friday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said that the collection of PVCs would be decentralised to various wards from 6th January. This will run till 15th January.

The statement, which was issued by INEC’s Chairman for Information and Voter Education Committee, Barrister Festus Okoye indicated that the collection would be moved to the 8,809 registration area/wards from January.

The statement read in part: “The commission has fixed Monday, 12th December 2022 to Sunday, 22nd January 2023 as the dates for the collection of PVCs in all the 774 local government offices of the commission throughout the federation.

“The Commission also resolved to devolve PVC collection to the 8,809 registration areas/wards from Friday 6th to Sunday 15th January 2023. Those that are unable to collect their PVCs at the local government offices of the commission can do so at the registration areas/electoral wards. After the 15th of January 2023, the exercise will revert to the local government offices of the commission until 22nd January 2023.

“All eligible and valid registrants can collect their PVCs from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm daily, including Saturdays and Sundays.

“All the RECs and electoral officers have been directed to convene a meeting with the critical stakeholders in their states and local government areas, including traditional and religious leaders, civil society groups, community-based organisations and the media to brief them on the modalities for the collection of the PVCs in order to sensitise the public and ensure seamless exercise.

“Similarly, RECs and EOs have also been directed to set up help desks to assist registrants with complaints about their PVCs or with the PVC collection procedure for immediate redress”.

The 2023 general elections begin with the presidential and National Assembly polls on 25th February 2023, while the governorship and state assembly elections hold on 11th March.

Campaigns, which are ongoing, will end two days to each of the election dates.