177,183 PVCs still uncollected … Gombe REC alerts

A total of 176,183 Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) out of the 280,508 printed for Gombe State by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have remained uncollected.

The Gombe State Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, Alhaji Umar Ibrahim sent out the alert during an interactive session with traditional as well as religious leaders in the State.

The REC stated that in response to calls by stakeholders for the decentralization of the PVC collection from the Local Government Offices of INEC and ease the rigours of long distance, the commission recently approved the collection of the PVC’s at the Registration Areas or Wards from 14th to 21st January 2019.

Alhaji Umar, therefore, appealed to the traditional and religious leaders who have met with the REC at different times to call on their subjects and followers to visit their Registration Areas or Wards for the collection of the PVC’s before 21st January or go back to INEC Local Government offices to collect them.

He emphasized that the PVCs remain the only valid instrument for participation in the election adding that the Commission will temporarily suspend the collection of the PVCs on 8th February, 2019 for the general elections.

The Emir of Akko, Alhaji Umar Mohammed Atiku, who responded on behalf other traditional rulers assured that elections will be peaceful going by the peaceful campaigns already being experienced and promised to mobilize their subjects to collect the PVC’s.

He said they will continue to enlighten their people and urged religious leaders to double their efforts too. He also assured that they will continue to work in synergy with all stakeholders for the success of the elections.

During their own session, the Gombe State Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Secretary and representative of the Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI) said that they were already enlightening their followers on the importance of collecting their PVCs for the forthcoming election.