Brave Dickson
Following the deadline extension of PVC collection for the second time by INEC, the Rivers State Civil Society Organisation (CSO) has urged the electoral umpire to eliminate deadlines on PVC collection. in other words, it shouldn’t be time – bound.
The state CSO stated this in a chat with our correspondent shortly after INEC announced the February 5 deadline extension for PVC collection across the country.
You recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission had first announced January 29 as the deadline extension for PVC collection and again extended the deadline to February 5 which the commission has said will be the last deadline.
Reacting to the deadline placed on PVC collection by INEC, the Chairman of the state CSO, Ene-faa Georgewill said, “while we commend INEC for extending the deadline placed on PVC collection, we wish to urge INEC not to attach deadline on PVC collection.
“PVC collection should be something the citizens can freely collect at any time even up to the day before the election.
“PVC should be like ATM cards where citizens can just walk to INEC office as they do to banks and get their PVC in few hours.
“To get PVC shouldn’t be a stressful exercise. Hence, iNEC should deploy sophisticated tech that can ease the burden associated with the getting of PVCs.
“The process of registering and collecting of PVCs should be done in a day within few hours the way it is with ATM cards. A little cost might as well be attached on those who misplaced their first free PVC and needed another PVC.”
