ABUJA: The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to commence the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of next month’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections.
The FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mallam Aminu Idris, disclosed this in Abuja while briefing journalists, saying the commission has put arrangements in place to ensure a smooth collection process across the territory.
Idris said PVCs would be distributed in all registration areas across the 62 political wards and the six Area Council INEC offices in the FCT. He explained that the exercise would last five days and would cover voters who registered during the last Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, as well as those who applied for relocation within the territory.
According to him, INEC has engaged security agencies to guarantee a hitch-free exercise, and officials will also be deployed to rural areas to enable residents collect their cards without difficulty.
“The commission will continue to engage with stakeholders, including civil society organisations, to ensure that all eligible voters participate in the Area Council elections,” he said.
The resident electoral commissioner emphasised that only voters in possession of valid Permanent Voter Cards will be allowed to vote during the polls.
He also disclosed that INEC is consulting transport union leaders to ensure the timely deployment of election materials, particularly to areas with difficult terrain, to guarantee full participation of eligible voters.
Idris assured that persons with disabilities have been adequately considered in the arrangements for the February elections, in line with the commission’s commitment to inclusive participation.
He further reiterated INEC’s readiness to comply with any court order, should the need arise, as part of its obligation to uphold the rule of law and the integrity of the electoral process.
