The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the resumption of the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Ondo State, aimed at facilitating a credible and peaceful election on November 16. Sam Olumekun, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, shared this information in a recent statement.
According to Olumekun, PVC collection will take place at the commission’s 18 Local Government Area (LGA) offices in Ondo State from Wednesday, October 23, to Tuesday, October 29, 2024, between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM daily, including weekends.
Olumekun also highlighted the success of the previous collection period, during which PVCs from the last Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) were made available in all 203 wards in the state. He reported that from October 17 to 21, a total of 55,859 cards were collected by new registrants and those seeking to transfer or replace lost or damaged cards, accounting for 62.2% of the 89,777 cards available. This collection rate marks the highest percentage of PVCs collected within a five-day span in Ondo State since the introduction of the CVR in 2015.
A detailed breakdown of the collection statistics by Local Government Areas has been made available on INEC’s website and social media platforms for public reference.
INEC is urging voters who have not yet collected their PVCs to do so in person from the LGA offices, emphasizing that no cards will be collected by proxy to ensure the integrity of the voting process. The commission, along with the police, has also cautioned the media against spreading fake news and urged impartial reporting as the election approaches.