560,285 uncollected PVCs in Ogun –INEC

Nigerian permanent voters card

The Administrative Secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Ogun State, Mr. Dickson Atiba, said on Tuesday that the commission had become worried over 560,285 uncollected Permanent Voter Cards in the state.

Atiba said this during a visit by the state's new Commissioner of Police, Mr. Valentine Ntomchukwu, to the INEC headquarters in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The INEC boss said the turnout of voters at the different polling units in the state for PVC collection had been very low.

He said, "The total number of registered voters in Ogun State is 1,795,794 and total number of PVCs we have received so far from Abuja is 1,368,875. And out of this, 808,590 have been distributed as at today (Tuesday), which represents 59.1 per cent.

"The distribution of the cards is still ongoing in different polling units across the state. We have tried to make sure the cards are collected. We have asked our officials to write out the names on the PVC, and we will present the list to stakeholders.

"By next week, we believe the number of those who had collected their PVCs will improve, since we are distributing at the polling unit level."

Atiba said he foresaw a situation whereby INEC might extend the March 8 deadline for the collection of PVCs, if substantial number of PVCs remained uncollected by that date.

The CP commended INEC for the progress made so far towards ensuring free and fair elections on March 28 and April 11.

He said the police were ready to provide adequate security during and after the polls.

Ntomchukwu said, "I will convene very soon the inter-agency security meeting before the elections, to deliberate on security and planning.

"The police are ready to provide adequate security. I will like to work with other security agencies to ensure free, smooth and fair elections."