The Independent National Electoral Commission announced on Friday that citizens who registered to vote ahead of the 2023 general elections would be able to collect their Permanent Voters Cards beginning from December 12, 2022.
This was revealed in a statement by INEC in Abuja.
The commission met on Thursday, December 1, 2022, and deliberated on a number of issues, including the dates for the nationwide collection of Permanent Voters Cards, according to the statement.
It was previously reported that the Commission held a retreat in Lagos from November 28 to December 2, 2022, with all Administrative Secretaries and Resident Electoral Commissioners from the 36 Federation States and the Federal Capital Territory. During the retreat, the Commission finalised the procedure and timetable for collecting PVCs.
The statement which was signed by the Commissioner in charge of Voters Education, Festus Okoye partly reads, “Consequently, the Commission has fixed Monday, 12 December 2022, to Sunday, 22 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 agreed to delegate PVC collection to the 8,809 Registration Areas/Wards from Friday, January 6th to Sunday, January 15th, 2023. Those who are unable to collect their PVCs at the Commission’s Local Government Offices may do so at the Registration Areas/Electoral Wards.
After January 15, 2023, the exercise will be returned to the Commission’s Local Government Offices until January 22, 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 Commission appreciates the patience and understanding of Nigerians, especially those who registered as voters or applied for transfer/replacement of their cards from January to July 2022. In making the cards available for collection, the Commission is also working to ensure that the process is simple and hitch-free for Nigerians.”