Borno: INEC Recants, Says PVCs Will Be Distributed In Only Two Local Governments

SAN FRANCISCO, January 09, (THEWILL) – As the distribution of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) commences in Borno State on Saturday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Friday declared that the exercise which is expected to end on Friday, January 15, will only be done in two out of the 27 Local Government Areas in the state.

The electoral commission had early said the exercise would start Friday and would be conducted in 12 Local Government Areas of the state.

However, the outgoing INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for the state, Prof. Tukur Sa'ad, who disclosed the new plan on Friday, said the exercise will only be carried out in only Maiduguri and Jere Local Governments, due to the prevailing security challenges.

“The issuance of PVC to registered voters and the CVR will take place in Maiduguri and Jere LGA considered to be relatively safe now,” he said, adding that PVC will be issued based on the temporary voters card issued at the nationwide voters registration in 2010.

He nonetheless said INEC will also conduct Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) for individuals who had attained voters age during the period, stressing that the two exercise will take place at wards levels as well as Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in the areas.

According to Sa'ad, “PVC is like an ATM card that will not allow an individuals to vote more than once in an election and the CVR is for individuals who have attained voter age or those whose names were missing in the voters register.”

He maintained that INEC was collaborating with security agents to extend the exercise to other LGAs such as Biu, Shani that were relatively safe to ensure that everywhere is covered.