INEC says no voting without PVC
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Mahmood Yakubu has corrected insinuations claiming that citizens can vote without the Permanent Voter Card, PVC, saying that would be a gross violation of the Electoral Act.
Addressing Resident Electoral Commissioners at an induction retreat held at Sheraton Hotel Victoria Island Lagos, the INEC chairman said the commission has always maintained its No PVC No Voting stance, stressing that nothing has happened to change that position.
Citing Section 47(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 which provides that “a person intending to vote in an election shall present himself with his voter’s card to a Presiding Officer for accreditation at the Polling Unit in the constituency in which his name is registered” he said INEC would be condoning a breach of this legal requirement should a voter vote without the PVC.
He maintained that the use of PVC in voting is mandatory.
The INEC boss also lamented the incessant attack directed at the commission’s facilities across the country and enlisted the support of traditional rulers , communities and security agencies to stem the tide ahead of the general elections.
While noting the increase in arsonists’ attacks, affecting about five local government areas in different states in the last four months, Professor Yakubu however assured that nothing will stop the 2023 general election scheduled to commence on February 25.
“I want to reassure Nigerians that we will recover from these attacks. The lost materials will be replaced but there is a limit to our ability to keep replacing wantonly destroyed materials with just 86 days to the General Election.
” The security agencies, traditional and community leaders and all well-meaning Nigerians should continue to support the Commission to stop the attacks but the ultimate solution is arrest and prosecution so that vandals and arsonists do not feel that bad behaviour is an acceptable conduct in our country”
