Tuesday 3 February 2015

Permanent Voters Cards ready for collection- INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission,
INEC, yesterday said the commission had produced
Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for all the registered voters
in the country.
Deputy Director, Voter Education and Publicity, INEC, Mr
Nick Dazang, disclosed this at a workshop organised for
journalists in Kaduna.
INEC had in January announced that it registered 68.8
million voters in the country for this month’s general
elections.
Dazang said although the commission earlier had
challenges in the production of the cards, it was able to
overcome the challenges.
He said the commission had produced cards for those
whose data were lost and those recently captured during its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).
“At a point in time, the contractor producing the cards had
machine failure, but after sometimes, he overcame the
problem and was able to boost level of production from
350,000 to 600,000 per day.
“The one we sublet was able to produce 1.4 million daily
and that explained why we keep telling people that we have
confidence that we will produce the card and every one will
get it.
“Now, as we speak, the cards for those whose bio-data
were captured during the Continuous Voters Registration are available for collection.”
He said the cards had been distributed to respective states
for collection and owners could collect theirs at the
distribution centers.”
Dazang also said that no fewer than 65 per cent of the cards had been collected nationwide as at yesterday morning.
“As at last week when we had a meeting with our Public
Affairs Officers in Abuja, the commission had distributed 63
per cent of the cards.”
He assured that those who registered would collect their
cards before February 14.
Dazang said the commission had taken delivery of 152,000
card reader machines, which would be used at the 120,000
polling units during the polls, adding that each card reader
was configured for use at specific polling units.
Dazang also said that non-sensitive materials had been
distributed, while the distribution of sensitive materials
would begin soon.
Dansang, who commended the level of collaboration INEC
had with the media, said the commission would continue to
work with journalists to improve the nation’s election
process.
“For any election to be successful, the electoral body must
work with the media,” Dazang said.
As ex-confab delegates seek polls’ postponement
Meanwhile, barely two weeks to the general election, some
former members of the 2014 National Conference, yesterday, called for the postponement of the election,
saying INEC was not ready for the polls.
The delegates, in their separate presentations on the issue
at a symposium entitled “The National Conference and the
2015 Elections” organised by the HH Macaulay Centre for
the Advancement of Democracy in Abuja said going ahead
with the election when many Nigerians were yet to collect
their PVCs would mean disenfranchising thousands of
eligible voters.
Some of the delegates who were mainly discussants
included Col. Tony Nyiam, Mr. Dan Nwanyanwu, Madam
Anko Briggs, Chief Mike Ozekhome, Mr. Yinka Odumakin
amongst others.
Senator Femi Okoromu, who was also a delegate to the
defunct conference was the chairman of the occasion.
Though some of the panelists differed on the postponement of the elections for fear of prompting violence and protest in the country, some however were in favour of the call.
For instance, former National Chairman of Labour Party
(LP), Chief Dan Nwanyanwu was one of those who
supported the call. According to him, INEC had fallen short
of the expectations of many Nigerians in the distribution of
the PVCs.
Also speaking, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Chief
Mike Ozehkome also advised that it would amount to the
disenfranchisement of many Nigerians should the elections be held as slated without considering the inadequ
acies of INEC.

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