INEC Distributes 672,000 PVCs In Ogun

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Tuesday, said it had distributed over 672,000 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Ogun.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Timothy Ibitoye, said this in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, during a visit to Oba Sikiru Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland.

Ibitoye said the figure represented 50 per cent of the 1.22 million cards received for the registered voters in the state.

He said eligible voters yet to obtain their cards should be patient, as the commission would distribute the outstanding cards before Feb. 14.

Ibitoye, however, warned that the commission would insist on its policy of  ‘no PVC, no voting’.

He said smartcard readers would be used at the general elections for accreditation of voters, adding that no one should be seen with more than one card.

Ibitoye said: “The introduction of the smartcard reader by the commission is a new initiative to ensure that the exercise is free, fair and credible.

“If the card you are holding belongs to INEC, it will read it and tell you that you have a genuine card.

“I can assure you that the system will only be able to read cards generated by INEC and exposes any fraudulent scheme, especially cloned cards.”

He said the success of the polls was everyone’s responsibility, adding, “I want to use the opportunity to appeal to our traditional leaders to help us maintain peace at the polls.