The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has again reiterated that the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) have no expiry date.

Yakubu said the claim that PVCs expire was misleading, calling on Nigerians not to register more than once as “multiple registration is an offence under the Electoral Act”.

He made this known while speaking at the official presentation of the INEC 2022-2026 Strategic Plan and the Commission Election Project Plan for the 2023 general election in Abuja on Wednesday.

The INEC Chairman stated that the PVCs of validly registered voters from the first and second quarters were already available for collection at designated centres across the country.

He further appealed to Nigerians, who registered between June and December 2021, to collect their PVCs in person, stressing that no PVCs would be collected by proxy.

Yakubu noted that the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise will end on June 30, 2022, calling on all eligible voters that are yet to register to do so on or before the closing date.

Yakubu said: “Let me also reassure those who registered between January and March 2022 as well as those who are doing so until the end of the exercise that their PVCs will be ready for collection long before the 2023 general election.

“For emphasis, the Commission once again reiterates that PVCs have no expiry dates. We want to assure all registered voters that PVCs issued by the Commission remain valid for all elections.

“We have encouraged those whose lost their voters cards or whose cards are damaged to approach any of the registration centres to apply for replacement.

“Similarly, voters who had issues with their accreditation in previous elections have been encouraged to revalidate and update their information.

“In addition, those who wish to transfer their registration from one location to another within a particular State or to relocate entirely to another state of the federation can do so at any of the registration centres nationwide. These steps are in compliance with the law in order to serve Nigerians better.

“The claim that PVCs expire is misleading. Citizens are therefore advised not to register more than once as multiple registration is an offence under the Electoral Act. Anyone engaged in the act of double or multiple registration is liable to prosecution. No citizen should engage in it or encourage others to violate the law,” he stated.

Yakubu stated that the 2023 general election will involve an estimated one million electoral officials (both permanent and temporary or ad hoc staff) deployed to 176,846 polling units in 8,809 Wards and 774 Local Government Areas across the country.

The INEC Chairman stressed that the election will be governed by a new Electoral Act 2022, which contains many progressive provisions that will enhance the capacity of the Commission to conduct elections and manage the electoral process better.

He added: “To do this, the Commission relies on three key elements. First is the knowledge and experience gathered from the conduct of previous elections. Second is the use of innovations to enhance electoral integrity and improve voter experience. Third is the institutionalization of the culture of planning.

“These elements have guided the Commission through three successive general and several off-cycle and bye-elections.

“Consequently, our elections are getting better, electoral outcomes less contentious, and voter experience of the electoral system increasingly more participatory and inclusive.

He further stated that the Strategic Plan 2022-2026 and the 2023 Election Project Plan drew lessons from, and thoroughly reviewed, the level of implementation of the last plans.

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The INEC Chairman added that the new plans were built on the successes of the preceding plans, especially in the planning and conduct of the 2019 general election as well as off-cycle and bye-elections.

Speaking on the spate of insecurity in the country, Yakubu said INEC will continue to engage early and intensely with the security agencies to ensure the safety of the Commission’s officials, materials, and voters.

He said: “We are also aware of the security challenges and their impact on the electoral process.

“We will continue to engage early and intensely with the security agencies to ensure the safety of our personnel and materials, accredited observers and the media and, above all, the voters.

“Clearly, these are challenging times but we are determined that election must hold in 2023.

“However, this is a shared responsibility. INEC plays a critical role but the Commission alone cannot deliver the elections we all desire. I, therefore, appeal to all Nigerians to join hands with us in ensuring that we make a success of the process.”

The INEC boss further reiterated that the dates for all activities in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 general election are firm and fixed, calling on all stakeholders to take the dates into consideration while planning their activities.

The Star