Only 17 Percent of PVCs collected in Akwa Ibom – INEC

The Akwa Ibom State’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that 121,317 Permanent Voters cards (PVC) are yet to be collected.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner(REC) in the state, Mr Mike Igini, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Uyo on Monday.

“No individual can vote without PVC but unfortunately there has been very poor response to collection, this should be a matter of concern to all stakeholders.

“So far, only 24, 420 have been collected out of 145, 737 PVCs printed and delivered to the state.” he said

Igini revealed that only 17 per cent of PVCs has been collected in the state.

He said that there was urgent need for critical stakeholders to sensitise and galvanise voters to collect their PVCs because “no PVC no voting” in 2019.”

The REC admonished the people of the state to mobilize themselves to collect their PVCs, adding that without their PVCs, they would not be able to vote during the elections.

He further advised political stakeholders in the state to mobilise the electorate by providing them with transport to enable collect their PVCs at various local governments.

“You all know how you assisted to mobilise the people to register by mobilising them from various local governments, using vehicles to bring them to the centres.

“Please do well enough to mobilise them to various local governments, offices are open as a matter of fact because of the need to suspend the exercise on Aug. 17,” Igini said.

Igini said that the commission had earlier announced the extension of Saturday and Sunday for the collection of PVCs across the 31 local government areas to accommodate as many people as possible.

The REC noted with concern that the state had not attained 50 per cent of PVCs collection in the state.