Over 20m permanent voters’ cards lying unclaimed – INEC

As Nigerians prepare for the upcoming 2023 elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed worry over the 20 million permanent voters’ cards still lying unclaimed in its vault.

It also decried the poor participation of citizens in the ongoing continuous voters’ registration exercise.

INEC’s Deputy Director, Voter Education, Mrs Mary Nkem, stated this at the launch of the PVC Bus Drive project, organised by a non-governmental organisation, the Advocacy for Civic Engagement, in Abuja on Wednesday.

She, therefore, urged Nigerians, especially the youth demographic to be actively involved in the process of electing new leaders that will affect real change and move the country forward.

According to INEC, vote’s not social media will determine the winners of the 2023 general elections.

The Commission said, “This CVR exercise began on the 30th of June, 2021, but we have discovered that between that time and a few weeks ago, the turnout has been relatively low.

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“If the youths in this country would come out en-masse to cast their votes, we would no longer be recording 15 or 20 percent voter turnout in our elections, because we know that the population of the youths alone can make a difference.

“The youths no longer visit social media, they basically live there today. Therefore, when you want to reach out to them, you must go to where you will meet them – social media.

“However, I would like to say that INEC does not conduct an election on social media nor do we count ballots on Twitter or Instagram.

“Our ballots are counted in the ballot box. It is only the ballot paper that enters into the ballot box that the Commission counts.

“So, what does that mean? It means that on Election Day people must go out to cast their votes. For you to be able to do so, you must be a registered voter and in possession of a PVC,” she stated.

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On his part, INEC’s Executive Director for Advocacy for Civic Engagement, Barr. Obinna Osisiogu, said that the PVC Bus Drive Project will support at least 60 percent of eligible young voters to register, collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) and vote in the 2023 elections.

According to him, the project was initiated to eliminate the logistical barriers hindering some Nigerians, particularly those residing in rural areas from participating in the ongoing continuous voters’ registration exercise and collecting their PVCs thereafter.

He explained that ACE working in collaboration with Yiaga Africa and the UNDP will provide free bus service in two area councils in the FCT, as well as across the LGAs in Ondo and Ogun states to enable the people to accessing the INEC office nearest to them as part of the traditional and non-traditional means of political mobilisation.