The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has commenced investigation into the allegedly buried Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in the country.
INEC made this known in reaction to the viral videos showing many PVCs being buried underground in some locations, including the compound of a high-profile person in the country.
The commission, in a statement issued on Thursday by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said INEC “is not taking these allegations lightly”.
Okoye stated: “We have commenced immediate investigation and anyone found culpable in this diabolical scheme clearly intended to disenfranchise Nigerians will be sanctioned under the law.
“Every eligible Nigerian who registered as a voter is entitled to his/her PVC. The constitutional right to vote in any election must never be suppressed or abridged in any way.
“As far as the record of the Commission is concerned, PVCs have been printed for all valid registrants in Nigeria up to 14th January 2022 and delivered to all the states of the federation for collection by voters. We will not allow retrogressive elements to sabotage our efforts.
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“The issues of voter registration, compilation of the voters’ roll and issuance of PVCs are at the heart of any democratic elections and the Commission is working hard to ensure that every eligible citizen who appears in person at the registration venue is registered. We assure Nigerians that this matter will be pursued to its logical conclusion.
“Already, the Commission is reviewing the procedure for collecting PVCs to make it less cumbersome and more transparent. This will be a major topic at the next regular quarterly meeting with stakeholders so that working together we can find a lasting solution to the issue,” he said.
Okoye, therefore, urged those who found the allegedly buried PVCs to deliver them to INEC office in any state or local government.
“This will be their patriotic contribution to the consolidation of our electoral process,” he stated.
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