Independent National Electoral Commission -INEC says about seventy five percent of Permanent Voters Card has been collected by eligible voters in Kaduna State.
The Administrative Secretary of the Commission Alhaji Auwal Muhammad Mashi stated this when a Non Governmental Organization, Voters Education Initiative paid a courtesy call to the Commission in Kaduna .
Alhaji Auwal Muhammad explained that out of the over six hundred thousand permanent voters cards for fresh and transfer registrants that were in their possession since the commencement of the recent exercise , only less than one hundred thousand are yet to collect their cards.
He stressed that INEC mandate was to enfranchise the citizens and not to de-franchise,hence the commission’s continues extension of the collection deadline to ensure that everyone collects their PVC.
‘those that are claiming they have not gotten their permanent voters cards , could be ignorant from their parts or those that engaged in multiple registration for which the machine was designed to disqualify such category of people ,for we witnessed one person that registered fifty two times ;moving from one polling unit to another,
‘after we have finished the registration of eleven million people under the category of new registrants, transfer,missing PVC or cards not able to be read among others,all data were streamline to a system that was given a task to cancel anyone with multiple registration’,he concluded.
Talking on the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System-BVAS, the Administrative Secretary reiterated that the machine is an excellent device meant to improve the electioneering system in the country.
Earlier in his speech,the Team leader of the NGO Barrister Chris Nnoli said their purpose for the visit was to ensure synergy between them for enhance voters sensitization.
‘what we are concerned is ensuring the betterment of elections in the country.we can assist INEC before , during and after elections in areas of interest aimed at improving the system ‘,he said.
Barrister Chris Nnoli explained that the Voters Education Initiative has continued to take sensitization of voters to religious bodies, communities,women and youth groups, market places,car parks and other public areas.
He charged the electorates to ensure that they use the extension window given by INEC for collection of PVCs and come out enmass on election day to vote credible candidates that will improve the socio-economic development of the country.
The Team leader commended INEC for their purposeful drive towards obtaining a perfect,free and fair elections while assuring of their readiness to also observe and contribute their quota during and after the elections.
Cover/Teddy Daniel