INEC Bows To Pressure, Extends Deadline For PVCs’ Collection

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigeria’s electoral umpire, has finally extended the deadline for collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, made the announcement at today’s meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

Naija News reports that the electoral umpire extended the deadline from Friday, February 8 to Monday, February 11, 2019.

INEC partnered with the Nigeria Communication Commission, NCC, in sending SMS to every citizen of the country to alert them on the change of date.

The SMS sent out reads: “Are you a registered voter & yet to collect your PVC? Please visit INEC’s LGA office where you registered to collect your PVC from 9am – 3pm, Monday to Friday until 8th February 2019. Remember, NO PVC, NO VOTING!!!”

The development, this online news platform understands will include Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm.

Meanwhile, Naija News reports that this is coming after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria’s main opposition party, had urged INEC to extend the deadline for the collection of PVCs by three days.

PDP had said in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan on Wednesday that the demand was predicated on reports across the country that some compromised INEC officials at the collection centres were deliberately refusing to issue the PVCs to voters.