2023: Publish List Of Unclaimed PVC – Ojikutu Tells INEC

The former deputy governor of Lagos State, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the list of all unclaimed Permanent Voter Cards (PVC).

Naija News reports that her appeal follows the revelation by the Public Affairs Officer of INEC in Lagos, Adenike Oriowo, who disclosed that there were 963,884 PVC yet to be collected as of October 21, 2022.

Available reports reveal that Lagos, Ogun, Delta, Ekiti and Enugu states record the highest numbers of uncollected PVCs in the country.

However, Ojikutu, in a statement issued on Wednesday by her media office in Lagos appealed to the electoral body to ensure a free, fair and credible election across the country.

According to her, INEC should publish the list of uncollected PVCs by the local government for easy collection.

She said, “I urge INEC to publish all unclaimed PVCs and the publication should be on a local government basis. The upcoming election should be issue-based and devoid of mudslinging that would distract the electorate to make an informed decision.

“The election management body should continue on the same trajectory that would ensure openness and transparency to forestall any violence after the election.

“The choices we make will either strengthen if we choose the right candidate or worsen the economic situation of the country if a wrong and incompetent candidate is elected,” the former deputy governor added.

Meanwhile, Naija News reported earlier that not less than ten thousand lecturers and students of the Bayero University in Kano may participate in the conduct of the forthcoming 2023 general elections as Ad-hoc staff.

INEC was said to have presented the slots to the varsity’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sagir Abbas, on Wednesday.

Disclosing the process of recruitment, INEC’s Director of General Administration and Procurement, Lawal Sauri, said interested members of the academic community who wished to participate in the exercise could apply immediately online.

Sauri explained that the forms are for academic and non-teaching staff and students. He, therefore, called on interested persons to “apply online and after that come over for the collection of the hard copy application forms.”

However, Sauri, accompanied by the top management staff of the commission, stressed that “Only those who apply online will be considered.”

In his remark, shortly after the presentation of the forms, Abbas commended INEC for considering BUK as a worthy partner.

The varsity Don assured that “the management will make the forms available to any interested persons and will make sure that such persons are recruited for the election exercise.”