FCTA to help INEC dispense uncollected PVCs to residents

The FCT Administration has assured
the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) of its readiness to
partner with it to sensitize residents
to collect their Personal Voters Cards
(PVCs).
According to FCT Minister, Malam
Muhammad Musa Bello, who made this
assertion, Abuja is prepared to showcase
Nigeria’s Democratic testimonials to the
world in all elections.
Bello spoke when he welcomed the
newly appointed FCT Resident Electoral
Commissioner (REC), Alh. Yahaya Bello,
when the later paid him a courtesy call to
his office, on Tuesday.
He assured the REC that the
Administration would do all that is
necessary to mobilize the residents to go
and collect their PVCs and to prepare to
participate in the actual voting process
when the time comes.
Bello, who was represented at the
occasion by the FCT Permanent Secretary,
Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, assured the Electoral
Commissioner that the Administration is
willing to collaborate with the Commission
to sensitise the populace on the ongoing
continuous voters’ registration exercise.
He reiterated that FCT Administration
is committed to ensuring that there
is effective voter education to check
apathy as well as adequate security for
the purpose of delivering free, fair and
peaceful elections when the time comes.
“We are going to work with all
the stakeholders: the Area Councils,
Traditional Rulers as well as faith-based
and community organizations to ensure
that people take advantage of the ongoing
exercise to register, in order to be able to
vote in the forthcoming elections,” the
Minister stressed.
Earlier , the new REC, Alh. Yahaya
Bello, whp told the FCTA that he came to
signify his arrival to assume office in the
FCT, lamented that the Commission still
has many uncollected PVCs (a backlog of
over 246,000 arising from the 2011, 2014
and 2016 exercises).
He revealed that FCT electorate,
from what had has observed since his
assumption of office have demonstrated
clear enthusiasm towards the forthcoming
polls.
According to him, new persons,
especially those who have just attained
the voting age of 18 as well as people
coming for transfers have been coming
forward to register.
The REC while commending the FCT
Administration for their past support,
appealed for greater collaboration in
the coming years, especially towards
mobilising the citizenry to use the
opportunity of the ongoing Continuous
Voters Registration Exercise to register
for the elections.