INEC To Begin PVC Distribution In Edo As Election Day Approaches

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the schedule for the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Edo State ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.

In a statement issued on Friday, INEC’s Head of the Department, of Voter Education and Publicity, Timidi Wariowei, confirmed that a five-day collection of PVCs would take place at the ward headquarters from August 22 to 26.

According to him, the exercise would move to the local government council offices of the electoral commission for another three days, from August 28 to 30.

“The commission implores all those who registered or did transfers to present themselves at the aforementioned locations and collect their PVCs. There is no PVC collection by proxy,” Wariowei said in the terse statement.

Earlier, INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, explained that his meeting with the National Peace Committee was to address issues concerning the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.

Yakubu said his meeting with the Abdulsalam Abubakar-led committee was because of the strategic role the committee has been playing in the national and state elections through deploying observers.

Ireporteronline reports that the INEC chairman explained that since the National Peace Committee became involved in elections conducted in the country, violence has been reduced in all elections.

Yakubu said this on Friday while addressing newsmen after meeting with the National Peace Committee. He stated that the Peace Committee has also promised to deploy its observers in the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.

“The Peace Committee is favourably disposed to a peaceful election in Edo and Ondo off-cycle election. So they invited us to come and brief the committee on our preparations so far and what we think the National Peace Committee should start thinking about, and I’m happy to report that we have received the reassurance that they will continue to deploy for the off-cycle of elections

“As we have noticed, since September 2020 when we conducted the last Edo governorship election and other off-cycle elections, they have been more peaceful than the previous elections because of the involvement of the National Peace Committee and for that we are most grateful for the partnership,” he said.

Yakubu disclosed that all the candidates for the Edo and Ondo governorship elections and their political parties will also sign a Peace Accord before the election.