Abuja: The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that 2,769,137 out of 2,802,790 registered voters in Anambra have successfully collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), reflecting a collection rate of 98.8% ahead of the state’s governorship election scheduled for Saturday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan shared these details during a news conference in Abuja on Thursday. He emphasized the remarkable turnout for PVC collection, attributing it to the commission’s decision to extend the deadline across all 326 Registration Areas in the state, which allowed nearly every eligible voter to obtain their card.
Prof. Amupitan explained that after the voter registration and database clean-up, INEC finalized a voter register of 2,802,790 individuals for this election as of September 4. Initially, only 63.9% of voters had collected their PVCs. To address this, INEC extended the collection period from October 29 to November 2, ensuring collection centers were accessible across all Registration Areas.
The INEC Chairman expressed his satisfaction with the results of the extension, noting that the percentage of collected PVCs has now reached 98.80%. He mentioned that uncollected cards will be stored securely at the Central Bank of Nigeria until after the election.
Prof. Amupitan encouraged all eligible voters to participate actively on election day, assuring them of their safety. He highlighted the concerning trend of declining voter turnout in Anambra, with participation rates dropping from 25.5% in 2013 to just 10.27% in 2021. He stressed the importance of citizen engagement for a thriving democracy and urged voters to exercise their civic rights.
Addressing election logistics, Prof. Amupitan stated that the commission is committed to ensuring that all 5,718 polling units open simultaneously at 8:30 a.m. He also announced that four National Commissioners, along with ten specially deployed Resident Electoral Commissioners, are in Anambra to oversee the election process personally.
In areas facing security challenges, particularly in Ihiala Local Government, Prof. Amupitan assured that voting would occur safely at the Local Government secretariat, with security agencies providing protection. He emphasized that the commission is determined to deliver a credible, inclusive, and transparent election, warning against any form of electoral malpractice.
Responding to inquiries about potential misconduct by ad hoc officers, Prof. Amupitan stated that the commission had addressed such concerns during a stakeholders meeting in Awka. He reiterated that misconduct would not be tolerated, and there would be rewards for electoral officers who conduct the process cleanly and efficiently.
Additionally, Prof. Amupitan reminded political parties participating in the Federal Capital Territory Area Council Election to submit the names of their polling agents and observers by December 15.