160,000 PVCs awaiting collection in Anambra – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has lamented that about 160,000 permanent voters’ cards, PVCs, belonging to Anambra people were still lying uncollected in their offices.

This is as the commission has said it was committed to conducting free and fair general elections in the State, come 2019.
The State Resident Electoral Commissioner Dr Nkwachukwu Orji, stated this during a meeting with political parties, Civil society Organizations, the Media and other relevant agencies in Awka.

Orji, who lamented the lukewarm attitude of registered members in collecting their Permanent Voter Cards, disclosed that out of 220,000 PVC’s produced by the commission only 60,000 have been collected.
He said that the Commission will soon liaise with Presidents-General of Town Unions, Traditional Rulers, Heads of Institutions to help in accessing and identifying the owners of the Permanent Voter Cards for collection.
He, however, commended Anambra people for their conduct and high sense of patriotism in both voter education and registration exercise, saying the commission was ready to tackle all bottlenecks that would be encountered during elections.

He announced that plans were underway to create additional mobile centres that will ensure registration of individuals who were unable to come to designated registration centres.
During the interactive session, the State Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Sir Nobert Obi, and his PDP counterpart, Chief Ndubuisi Nwobu called for all inclusive process and voter education to reduce voter apathy.

In a vote of thanks, the State Chairman of the SDP and Secretary IPAC , Chief Ikechukwu Nwakwe, on behalf of others assured the Commission of effective collaboration to ensure free and fair party primaries and elections in the State.