The Independent National Electoral Commission in Rivers state says new permanent voters card (PVC) received by the commission are now ready for
collection by those who registered towards the closure of the August 2018 registration.
Rivers INEC Resident electoral commissioner, Obo Effanga, who stated this on Thursday, said that the new PVCs include those who did their transfer of state of residence, adding that about six hundred thousand unclaimed PVCs are
lying unclaimed in INEC offices in the state.
He further called on registered voters to avail themselves the opportunity of picking up their PVCs on time as the 2019 polls is around the corner.
“Apart from the first registration which is about eighty-four thousand, we have also received the first batch of cards for those who did their transfer and we have about twelve thousand, one hundred cards for people that did transfer.
” Registered voters in Rivers state as of now are 3. 2 million voters, total cards received by us for collection as of now is 3. 1 million, total cards collected so far is 2. 5 million and we have an uncollected number of cards of about six hundred thousand.
“We have also stressed the fact that cards will be on collection till one week to the 2019 election and I advise voters that it is best to claim their cards now than to wait for rush hour”
Obo urged all eligible voters to ensure they check the various INEC offices in their local government areas for the collection of their PVCs.
“Even in the local government areas, voters can check the scheduling of locations for collection of cards. Some local government have already decided where and when people will pick up their cards at various wards closer to them.
” This is subject to the assurances made by the stakeholders that there will be adequate security provided for that purpose.
“voters who plan to spend their Christmas in the state and who registered in the state should take the opportunity during working hours to visit INEC offices in their local government areas and collect their PVCs”