The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has called on Akwa Ibom voters to collect their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVC).

The Electoral Officer of INEC, Mr Emeka Anwadike, who made this call on Tuesday said that the PVCs of those who registered from April to December 2017 were ready for collection..

Anwadike, who spoke during an official flag off of the distribution of PVCs in Eket Local Government Area of the state, said that more than 6,000 PVCs were yet to be collected.

He stressed that without the voters’ card, no one would be able to vote and therefore, urged all those who registered to come and collect their cards.

Also speaking, Mr Frank Archibong, the Chairman of Eket Local Government Area, said there was an increase in the number of registered voters after the massive sensitisation of eligible voters in 2017.

“We are in INEC office in Eket to ensure that registered voters, whose cards are ready, will come and collect them.

“A lot of people, who were registered do not know when to get their PVCs and do not even know that the cards are ready”.

“If 6,000 people do not collect their voter’s card in Eket, we have lost a reasonable number of voters in the forthcoming election,” he said.

He stated that before the sensitisation, about 70,000 persons were registered, but after the sensitisation, it increased to about 100,000.

Archibong said he had concluded plans to partner with INEC to decentralise the point of collection of the PVCs, so that rural dwellers would not have to go long distances to collect their cards.

“We will work out modalities with INEC office to see how this can be discentralised in order to reach out to the people at the grassroots,” Archibong said.

Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, a former INEC commissioner, on the occasion, said that the 6,000 cards now ready for collection were for those who had registered in the first phase of the ongoing exercise.

Ikoiwak stated that there had been four phases of registration since December 2017, noting that besides the 6,000 cards for the first phase, subsequent registrations would be released soon. (NAN)

– Jun 5, 2018 @ 17:29 GMT |