PVC: Imo electorate applaud extension of deadline for collection; Collect your PVCs at LGA offices – Ebonyi INEC urges voters

A cross section of electorate in Imo have described the extension of  deadline for collection of permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a `welcome development’.

The residents bared their minds while speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Owerri on Friday.

Most of the registered voters who were yet to collect their PVCs thanked INEC for the move, describing it as `considerate’.

Mr. Obinna Okenze, Campaign Coordinator of the Action Alliance (AA) Governorship candidate, Mr Uche Nwosu commended INEC for the decision and called on all registered voters who were yet to collect their PVCs to take advantage of the extension of the deadline.

This, he said, would enable them exercise their civic right of voting for candidates of their choice.

“The extension of deadline by INEC is a welcome development. I commend the INEC for this move.

“At the same time I call on all those who are yet to do so to go to their different Local Government (LG) offices and claim their PVCs so as to be able to exercise their franchise on Election Days,” he said.

Another voter, Mrs Barbara Chikerendu, a teacher who was spotted in one of the long queues said that although she had come more than twice for her PVC, she still thanked INEC for displaying patriotism when it mattered most.

“It is very patriotic of INEC to have extended the deadline. I hope I will get mine today because it is the third time I am coming for it,” she said.

Mr Cyril Christopher enjoined all voters to collect their PVCs before the new deadline in order to avoid what he described as `self denial of their fundamental right,’ he said.

NAN reports that the electoral body on Friday extended the deadline for collection of PVCs to Feb. 11 based on public demand.

Meanwhile, INEC in Ebonyi State has appealed to those yet to collect their PVCs to use the three days added by the commission to do so.

INEC earlier fixed the collection to end on Friday, Feb, 8, but extended the collection to Monday, Feb. 11.

Ebonyi INEC office in a press release signed by Mr Andy Ezeani and made available to newsmen in Abakaliki on Friday, said the national headquarters of INEC took the decision to enable prospective voters to collect their PVCs.

Ezeani, the Administrative Secretary of the commission in Ebonyi, urged eligible voters who are yet to obtain their PVCs to avail themselves of the opportunity offered by the extension.

He said: ”The national headquarters of our commission  today extended the deadline for collection of Permanent Voter Cards throughout the country.

“The exercise slated to end today, Friday, Feb. 8, 2019 will now end on Monday, Feb. 11, 2019.

“In the three extra days that is added to the exercise, collection of PVCs will be carried out only at the local government area offices of INEC from 9 a.m. to 6p.m. daily.

“At the end of the extension of the collection exercise on Feb. 11, all uncollected PVCs will be gathered, documented and kept in the custody of the state branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“INEC Ebonyi calls on all those who have not collected their PVCs to avail themselves of the opportunity offered by the extension of deadline to ensure that they collect their cards to qualify to vote in the elections.

“We wish to once again remind eligible voters that voting in 2019 elections will be by the use of PVCs hence no PVC no voting”, Ezeani  said.