The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abia State has warned staff members to avoid shady tactics during the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Aba on Monday, INEC’s Head of Public Affairs Unit in the state, Mr Bamidele Oyetunji said that the commission frowns at receiving or demanding gratification from the public while performing their duties.
”Our staff members do not need to search for anything on the internet.
“All they need to do is to give people their voter cards
”Anybody whose card is not found or those with challenges should be given a note to verify online by themselves”, Oyetunji said.
NAN reports that some residents of Aba have accused some INEC officials of collecting N500 from prospective voters before issuing them their cards.
Mrs Ijeoma Bernard said she was asked to pay N500 as a “verification fee” before she was given her card.
Also, Nwanyioma Enyinnaya said that the INEC officials refused to attend to her because she could not pay.
Mrs Iheanaetu Roseline expressed worries that her card could not be found after the stress she passed through to get registered.
NAN reports that at Osisioma and Aba North Local Government Areas, residents turned out en masse to collect their cards.
The state government declared Monday and Tuesday public holidays to enable workers to collect their PVCs ahead of the general elections.
