INEC explains reason for harvesting details in PVCs
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has clarified the recent video where staff where spotted harvesting details from Permanent Voters Card (PVCs).
According to a statement signed by Festus Okoye, National Commissioner & Chairman Information and Voter Education, the viral video was part of efforts by the commission to take inventory of uncollected PVCs.
He debunked insinuations that the 2023 elections would be in jeopardy, following the acts portrayed in the video.
He said, “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has become aware of a video circulating on various social media platforms, showing some INEC staff at our FESTAC Town, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area Office, Lagos extracting Voter Identification Numbers (VINs) from Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and entering same into their cellphones.
“The makers of the video insinuate that they were doing this for the purpose of undermining the 2023 General Election. The Commission wishes to state categorically that this is far from the truth.
“Actually, the video shows staff of the Commission harvesting VINS from PVCs, but only as part of an inventory of uncollected cards, provided for in the new Guidelines for the Management and Collection of PVCs, approved by the Commission for implementation nationwide.”
Okoye, revealed that it was in the Commission’s to enhance the collection of Permanent Voters Card that it opened collection centre.
“In its determination to enhance the rate of collection of PVCs, the Commission decided to establish a PVC collection process that includes an online component. The procedure entails that registered voters with access to the Internet could go to a dedicated portal to ascertain whether their PVCs are ready and to find their locations for subsequent collection. All they are required to do is to provide their details such as name, date of birth, state of registration or the last six digits of the VINs that they provided/received during registration, to locate their cards. This would improve the PVC collection process, but without prejudice to those who wish to go directly to the collection centres,” Okoye added.
He disclosed that collection of PVCs in Local Government Areas would commence in 22nd January, 2022.
He said, “Subsequently, from 16th January to 22nd January 2023, collection shall revert to our Local Government offices. Meanwhile, the online facility will be available throughout the exercise to assist registered voters in locating their PVCs for collection.”
