INEC extends deadline for PVC collection, vows to punish staff over alleged extortion, discriminatory issuance.

The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has extended the deadline for collecting permanent voter cards PVCs due to the growing enthusiasm displayed by registered voters for doing so.

Additionally, INEC has committed to discipline any employees who are discovered to have engaged in extortion or discriminated against any registered voter when issuing PVCs.

Festus Okoye, the commission’s national commissioner in charge of the committee for voter education and information, made this announcement in a statement released on Thursday in Abuja.

He said that the decision was a result of the Commission’s deliberations at its regular meeting on Thursday, which included the ongoing nationwide collection of PVCs.

He stated “The Commission is encouraged by the turnout of registered voters and the surge in the number of collected PVCs across the country. In some of the States, as many as 100,000 PVCs were collected in the last five days since the devolution to Ward level started on Saturday 6th January 2023.

“The Commission is determined to ensure that registered voters have ample opportunity to collect their PVCs ahead of the forthcoming election. For this reason, the timeframe for collection of PVCs is extended by eight days. Instead of ending on Sunday 22nd January 2023, the collection of PVCs will continue until Sunday 29th January 2023. At the moment, the period of collection is 9.00am – 3.00pm daily (including Saturdays and Sundays).

He added, “As a result of this extension, there is a consequential adjustment of the collection by location as follows:

“Collection at Registration Area (Ward) level is extended by one week from Monday 16th – Sunday 22nd January 2023.

“Collection at Local Government level will resume on Monday 23rd – Sunday 29th January 2023”, he stated.

Okoye added that the Commission is looking into claims of extortion by workers at some of the collection centers and coercion of some dishonest voters to bypass procedures in order to receive their PVCs.

“Those found culpable will be face disciplinary action and/or prosecution”, he declared.

He also added, “For the record, the Commission has printed 13,868,441 PVCs for all new valid registrants as well as applicants for transfer or replacement of cards. 

“Nevertheless, issuing officers should compile any complaints about non-availability of cards and forward them to their immediate supervisors for the attention of Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) who shall compile and forward them for necessary action.