Why We’re Collecting Voter Identification Numbers From PVCs – INEC

INEC has clarified its decision to harvest Voter Identification Numbers VIN from Permanent Voter Cards PVCs of Nigerians who registered several years ago but have yet to receive their PVCs.

Barr. Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner in charge of the Information and Voter Education Committee, said in a statement on Wednesday that the commission had been aware of a video circulating on various social media platforms.

The viral video showed some INEC staff at our FESTAC Town, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area Office in Lagos extracting Voter Identification Numbers (VINs) from Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and entering them into their cellphones, according to the statement.

Things You Need To Know About INEC Continuous Voter Registration

Okoye claimed that the video’s creators had implied that they were doing it to undermine the 2023 General Election.

However, INEC stated that the development was far from accurate.

“Actually, the video shows staff of the Commission harvesting VINs from PVCs, but only as part of an inventory of uncollected cards, provided for in the new Guidelines for the Management and Collection of PVCs, approved by the Commission for implementation nationwide”, said Okoye.

He stated that INEC, in its effort to increase the rate of PVC collection, opted to adopt a PVC collection method that includes an online component.

The procedure requires registered voters with Internet access to go to a dedicated webpage to determine whether their PVCs are ready and to locate their locations for eventual collection.

BREAKING: Court Orders INEC To Resume Voter Registration

“All they are required to do is to provide their details such as name, date of birth, state of registration or the last six digits of the VINs that they provided/received during registration, to locate their cards. This would improve the PVC collection process, but without prejudice to those who wish to go directly to the collection centres.

“For the newer PVCs, that is those from the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) that took place between January and July 2022, the VINs were harvested automatically and made available online. However, for the older uncollected PVCs that predate the new guidelines, their VINs must be harvested manually and painstakingly for upload to the PVC collection portal (www.voters.inecnigeria.org). The portal will also improve the records of the Commission regarding collected and uncollected PVCs”, he explained.

While the Commission praised Nigerians’ alertness and resolve to see free, fair, credible, and inclusive elections held in 2023, INEC stated that it was critical that information such as that included in the video be validated before being shared with the public.

INEC Reveals Why Dead Persons From Voter Register Can’t Be Removed

“A major threat to the upcoming general election comes from fake news and disinformation. The Commission appeals to Nigerians to remain conscious of this, even if the prior intention is worthy.

“Finally, we remind Nigerians that all uncollected PVCs will be available for collection at our 774 Local Government offices nationwide from 12th December 2022 to 5th January 2023. From 6th January to 15th January 2023, the cards will be made available for collection at the 8809 Registration Areas/Wards across the country in order to bring them closer to their owners.

“Subsequently, from 16th January to 22nd January 2023, collection shall revert to our Local Government offices. Meanwhile, the online facility will be available throughout the exercise to assist registered voters in locating their PVCs for collection”, the commission added.

Follow us on Facebook