INEC worries close to 1 million PVCs unclaimed in Lagos, huge portion belongs to women

Close to one million permanent voters cards are gathering dust across 20 LGA in Lagos despite the excitement and legal tussles that followed the early ending of the registration.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos State, Mr Olusegun Agbaje, disclosed this at the State Level CSO Engagement Visit organised by the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF) powered by the EU-Support Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) in collaboration with INEC.

He noted the total number of uncollected old PVCs in the state is 928,362 as at 5th Sept. 5 while the total number of uncollected New PVCs is 21,352.

In addition to these are new PVCs for the 2021/22 registration.

Agbaje worried the huge number of old and new PVCs lying fallow at INEC offices in the 20 local government areas belongs to women.

“Permanent Voter Card (PVC) is the sole instrument required from the Voter to participate in an election, it is an important eligibility instrument for voting without which no citizen would be allowed to partake in an election,” he said.

Activists and CSOs cried foul when INEC ended the registration earlier. Some went to court and got the commission extend the exercise.