No fewer than 635,011 Permanent Voter Cards remain uncollected by registered voters in Edo and Ondo states as the Independent National Electoral Commission begins Continuous Voter Registration today (Monday).
According to INEC’s statistics, 373,030 PVCs are uncollected in Edo State, while 261,981 remain unclaimed in Ondo State.
The commencement of the CVR comes as both states prepare for upcoming governorship elections, with Edo State’s election scheduled for September 21, 2024, and Ondo State’s for November 16, 2024.
INEC had announced that the CVR would run from Monday, May 27, to Wednesday, June 5, from 9 am to 3 pm daily, including weekends, to accommodate voters ahead of the elections.
During this period, uncollected PVCs will also be made available for collection.
The exercise will be conducted by INEC officials and corps members at 397 walk-in registration centres, as well as at ward levels and state headquarters to enhance accessibility and efficiency.
INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, speaking at a recent stakeholders meeting, highlighted the provisions allowing registered voters to transfer their registration from other states to Edo and Ondo, as well as relocate their voting credentials within the two states.
Yakubu explained that these measures were designed to streamline the process and encourage maximum participation in the forthcoming elections.
This initiative aims to address time constraints and ensure a more inclusive registration process.
In an interview on Sunday, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, expressed confidence in the smooth conduct of the CVR and encouraged registered voters to retrieve their PVCs.
He said, “We want to encourage all eligible persons to take advantage of this CVR window to do the needful exercise their right to vote.
“On our part, we will make the process as seamless as possible.”
