…sets up committees for National Situation Room and Collation Centre
Beginning from 6 January 2023 (today), all Nigerians who recently signed up for but are yet to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) can pick them up at their registration areas/wards.
Voters who applied to replace old and lost PVCs can also collect theirs during the same period.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), collection of PVCs at the ward level would last until 15 January 2023 and, thereafter, return to local government offices of the commission.
Announcing this in a statement on Thursday, Festus Okoye, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, said all eligible and valid registrants can collect their PVCs from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm daily, including Saturdays and Sundays.
“The devolution of PVC Collection to the wards commences tomorrow 6th January 2023, and all validly registered voters who are yet to collect their PVCs are encouraged to seize the opportunity of the devolutions to the wards to do so,” Okoye said in the statement.
“After the 15th of January 2023, the exercise will revert to the Local Government Offices of the Commission until the 22nd of January, 2023,” he said.
The INEC National Commissioner said all those who applied for replacement of “lost, damaged or defaced PVCs can collect their PVCs at the registration area/wards during this period and the same thing applies to those that registered prior to the 2019 general election and are yet to collect their cards”.
INEC also announced the launch of committees for the National Situation Room and Collation Centre for the 2023 general elections.
”As general elections approach, the commission establishes a national situation room and collation centre where the results of presidential elections are collated,” Okoye said.
He said that as before, the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja would serve as the venue for “this important exercise”.
”First is the Collation Secretariat, where presidential election results from the states will be collated. This will be headed by the chairman of the commission, in exercising his constitutional responsibilities as the Chief Electoral Commissioner of the Federation and Returning Officer for the presidential election. In addition, a few technical staff will assist him,” Okoye said.
”The second is the Situation Room and Collation Centre Committee. This shall be responsible for the preparation of the venue, seating arrangement, utilities and services, security, the accreditation of party agents, as well as the national and international observers, media, etc,” he said.
