For the fourth time in one month, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has shifted the issuance of the Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) in Niger State.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Niger state governor, Israel A. Ebije, he said a new date has been fixed for the exercise. The date is Friday, December 19, 2014.
The statement urged all registered voters in the state not to be deterred by the postponements but to ensure that they come out to receive their PVCs. He said they should look at the postponements from the possible side, adding that it has indeed raised awareness for eligible voters to be more than prepared for the exercise.
He disclosed that the PVC collection centers would be strategically designated across the state, adding that it is instructive people turnout in the numbers to avoid asking for extension of time if it can be avoided.
The Governors’ spokesman intimated that the use of the PVCs will not only make electorates eligible to vote in the 2015 but will also be useful in subsequent elections after 2015.
He also enjoined those that have not been registered and have attained the required voting age of 18 to ensure they come out to be registered during the exercise immediately after the issuance of the PVCs.
Meanwhile, the Inter-party Advisory Council of Nigeria, Niger state chapter has described as unacceptable the December 19-21 new date for the distribution of the permanent voters card, saying the date coincide with the Yule tide period.
In a statement in Minna yesterday, signed by the publicity Secretary, Comrade Abdulazeez Salaudeen, while condemning the decision of INEC for changing the date from December 12, it said it is a grand design by INEC to disenfranchise many Nigerians, especially Christians who be observing their Christmas celebration. The statement, while urging INEC to fix a date within January when all those who might have traveled for the Christmas and New Year break would have returned, however warned that it will boycott the exercise if INEC decides to go ahead with the exercise as scheduled.
