INEC Announces Significant PVC Collection Ahead of Edo State Governorship Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that 125,928 out of 184,438 newly printed Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) have been collected in Edo State in preparation for the upcoming governorship election on 21 September.

This collection rate represents 68.3% of the new PVCs issued during the recent Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, marking the highest collection rate INEC has achieved for off-cycle governorship elections since the introduction of CVR in 2015.

Mr Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, disclosed this in a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja.

Olumekun commended the coordinated effort that facilitated the collection process across all 192 wards in Edo State, which took place from 22 August to 26 August.

He highlighted that INEC’s meticulous planning, which involved packaging the PVCs by Polling Units, Wards, and Local Government Areas (LGAs), significantly contributed to the successful collection drive.

Olumekun stated, “The commission is pleased to announce the conclusion of the collection at Ward level.

Learning from the lessons of the previous collection of PVCs, the commission has carefully packaged all the PVCs by Polling Units, Wards, and LGAs.

We also produced the collection register, providing details of the voters whose cards were ready for collection and uploaded the same to our website.”

This approach not only streamlined the collection process but also ensured that voters had easy access to information regarding their PVCs.

INEC’s efforts included producing and making available a collection register that details the names of voters whose cards were ready for collection, which has been uploaded to the commission’s official website.

Additionally, INEC has provided a detailed breakdown of the PVC collection by LGAs, which is now available on their website and social media platforms for public access.

This transparency aims to keep the electorate informed and encourage those who are yet to collect their PVCs to do so promptly.

The collection of PVCs will resume in all INEC offices across the 18 LGAs in Edo State from Wednesday until 8 September.

Olumekun urged the remaining registered voters to take advantage of this opportunity to collect their cards from their respective INEC LGA offices.

He reiterated INEC’s policy that PVCs must be collected in person and not by proxy, emphasising the importance of personal responsibility in the electoral process.

“Let me reiterate INEC’s policy that no cards should be collected by proxy,” Olumekun stated, underscoring the commission’s commitment to ensuring that the PVCs are collected directly by the registered voters themselves.

He also noted that detailed information on the locations of INEC LGA offices is readily available on the commission’s website, making it easier for voters to find their designated collection points.

The high collection rate of PVCs is a positive indication of voter readiness and engagement in the upcoming Edo State governorship election.

INEC’s successful coordination and the robust collection framework demonstrate the commission’s dedication to improving the electoral process and ensuring that eligible voters have the necessary means to exercise their civic rights.

As the election date approaches, INEC continues to emphasise the importance of collecting PVCs as a crucial step in participating in the democratic process.

The commission has reiterated its commitment to conducting free, fair, and credible elections and has encouraged all eligible voters to collect their PVCs and participate actively in the electoral process.

The smooth execution of the PVC collection process is also a testament to INEC’s ongoing efforts to refine and enhance the electoral process through lessons learned from previous elections.

By providing clear and accessible information, INEC aims to foster a more transparent and inclusive election environment, where every eligible voter has the opportunity to make their voice heard.

As the collection of PVCs moves into its final phase, INEC’s call to action remains clear: eligible voters must collect their cards to ensure they are prepared to vote in the Edo State governorship election on 21 September.

This push for greater voter participation reflects INEC’s broader goal of strengthening democracy through active citizen engagement and a commitment to upholding the integrity of the electoral process.