INEC threatens to sanction those behind buried PVCs

•Says every eligible Nigerian is entitled to voters card

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has declared that anyone found culpable in connection with report of uncollected permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) discovered in inappropriate locations will be sanctioned under the law.

The Commission, which disclosed that it has commenced immediate investigation into the matter, pointed out that the ‘diabolical scheme’ was clearly intended to disenfranchise Nigerians, insisting that that will be sanctioned under the law.

The Commission, in a statement by one of its National Commissioners and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Festus Okoye, emphatically said that every eligible Nigerian who registered as a voter is entitled to his/her PVC.

It stressed that the constitutional right to vote in any election must never be suppressed or abridged in any way.

According to the statement, “The attention of the Commission has been drawn to videos trending online of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) allegedly buried underground in some locations, including the compound of a high-profile person.

“The Commission is not taking these allegations lightly.

‘We have commenced immediate investigation and anyone found culpable in this diabolical scheme, clearly intended to disenfranchise Nigerians, will be sanctioned under the law.

“Every eligible Nigerian who registered as a voter is entitled to his/her PVC.

“The constitutional right to vote in any election must never be suppressed or abridged in any way.

“As far as the record of the Commission is concerned, PVCs have been printed for all valid registrants in Nigeria up to 14th January 2022 and delivered to all the States of the Federation for collection by voters.

“We will not allow retrogressive elements to sabotage our efforts.

“The issues of voter registration, compilation of the voters’ roll and issuance of PVCs are at the heart of any democratic elections and the Commission is working hard to ensure that every eligible citizen who appears in person at the registration venue is registered.

“We assure Nigerians that this matter will be pursued to its logical conclusion.

“Already, the Commission is reviewing the procedure for collecting PVCs to make it less cumbersome and more transparent.

“This will be a major topic at the next regular quarterly meeting with stakeholders so that working together we can find a lasting solution to the issue”, it said.

The Commission has however appealed to those who found the allegedly buried PVCs to deliver them to its nearest State or Local Government office., saying, “This will be their patriotic contribution to the consolidation of our electoral process”.