By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will commence the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from Friday, 23rd to Sunday, 25th May in ten states in the first phase.
A statement issued by the commission said the states are: Taraba and Gombe (North East); Zamfara and Kebbi (North West); Benue and Kogi (North Central); Abia and Enugu (South East); and Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa (South South).
It also said the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise will take place in the first phase in the above states from Wednesday, 28th May to Sunday, 1st June.
Under phase two, the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards will commence from Friday, 18th July to Sunday, 20th July in the twelve states.
The states are: Yobe and Bauchi (North-East); Jigawa and Sokoto (North-West); FCT and Kwara (North-Central); Anambra and Ebonyi (South East); Ondo and Oyo (South-West); and Delta and Cross River (South South).
Also, the commission said the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise will take place in the above states from Wednesday, July 23rd to Sunday, July 27.
In the third phase, distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will commence on Friday, August 22nd and end on Sunday, August 24th, in Adamawa and Borno (North-East); Kaduna, Katsina and Kano (North-West); Plateau, Nasarawa and Niger (North-Central); Imo (South East); Lagos and Ogun (South-West); Edo and Rivers (South-South).
The statement also said the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise will begin in the above states from Thursday, 28th August and end on Sunday, 31st August.
To this end, voters are expected to cross-check their names in the displayed Voter Register, while those who registered before but do not see their names in the displayed register are to re-register during the continuous voter registration exercise, according to the statement.
Meanwhile, the commission warned that “the CVR exercise is not for those who wish to transfer. Those wishing to transfer should write to the Resident Electoral Commissioner in their new states of domicile, well before the election, as no transfer will be approved less than 30 days to the election”.
It further advised those who have lost their cards or whose cards are damaged, to apply for them to be replaced by writing to the Resident Electoral Commissioner through the INEC Electoral Officer of the Local Government Area where they registered for the replacement before the election.
It said no replacement will be approved and that no new card will be issued less than 30 days to the election.
