Unclaimed PVCs in Anambra causes INEC to raise alarm

Queen Agwu, The Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Anambra State,has said about 132,623 Permanent Voter Cards are yet to be claimed in the 21 local government areas of the state.

On Wednesday, Agwu made this known at the INEC headquarters in Awka, Anambra State, while raising concern about the situation.

She also said that the commission’s offices would be open on Saturdays and Sundays, urging voters who have not collected their PVCs to go and pick their PVCs, while the new batch of PVCs from the recent voter registration exercise was still being expected.

She said the commission has equally relocated six local government areas collation centres in the state over insecurity.

According to her, the security concerns was raised during a stakeholders meeting involving all the political parties, traditional rulers, civil society groups with the commission, among others.

Agwu listed the local government areas where the relocation of collation centres took place as Ihiala, Nnewi South, Onitsha North, Orumba North, Awka North and Awka South.

The REC said the collation of PVCs had been extended to Saturdays and Sundays in Anambra State, adding that they needed enough security to carry out their function.

She said if the people did not collect their PVCs, they were shortchanging Ndigbo and doing disservice to the people of South-East.

Agwu assured that 2023 general elections would be free, fair and credible, not only in Anambra State, but the entire country.

The figures at each of the 21 local government areas not collated as announced by INEC, were as follows: Ayamelum -1,960, Dunukofia -6,222, Idemili South -4’589.

Others were,l Anaocha -885, Orumba South -6,656, Onithsa South -12,274, Idemili North -16,256, Aguata -12675, Njikoka -7,009, Ogbaru -10,755 and Anambra East -7,717;

Nnewi South -1,841, Awka North -1,153, Anambra West -1,387, Orumba North -2,393, Oyi -7,982, Onitsha North -9,990, Ihiala -4,058, Nnewi North -8,700, Ekwusigo -3,350 and Awka South -4,971.

The traditional rulers and Town Union Presidents, including Party chieftains, assured that they would carry the message to their respective areas.

“Voters who have not collected their PVCs are encouraged to go and pick their PVCs, while the new batch of PVCs from the recent voter registration exercise is still being expected,” they added.

(Punch)