The Ogun State Government has declared Tuesday and Wednesday as work-free days for workers in the state public service to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

The Ogun State government’s announcement came via a press statement released by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kunle Somorin, in Abeokuta on Sunday.

The statement read, “Following the extension of Permanent Voter Cards collection till Sunday, January 29, 2023, by the Independent National Electoral Commission, Governor Dapo Abiodun has graciously approved two days – Tuesday, January 24 and Wednesday, January 25 as work-free days to enable public servants to collect their PVCs from their respective local governments.

“Governor Abiodun also enjoined all executive members of public markets and private establishments in the state to allow flexibility in their schedules for residents to use the opportunity to visit INEC offices or collection centres where they registered to collect their PVCs.”

Also, the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, declared Monday (today) and Tuesday as public holidays in the state to enable residents to collect their PVCs.

This directive was contained in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Chris Ezem, on Saturday.

The governor ordered that all public offices and markets should be closed and enjoined that everyone should use the opportunity to visit the INEC offices or collection centres where they registered to collect their PVCs.

“The executives of the various markets in the state are directed to ensure strict compliance on the closure of their various markets or be prepared to face appropriate sanctions. Banks and those on essential duties are not affected by this directive,” the statement added.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission says it is investigating video of uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) allegedly buried underground in some locations, including the compound of a high-profile person in Imo state.

INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye in a statement released on Thursday July 14, appealed to those who found the allegedly buried PVCs to deliver them to the commission’s nearest State or Local Government office.

He vowed that the commission would counter attempts to sabotage the process of getting PVCs to registered voters.

The statement read: “The Commission is not taking these allegations lightly. We have commenced an immediate investigation and anyone found culpable in this diabolical scheme clearly intended to disenfranchise Nigerians will be sanctioned under the law.

“Every eligible Nigerian who registered as a voter is entitled to his/her PVC. The constitutional right to vote in any election must never be suppressed or abridged in any way.

“This will be their patriotic contribution to the consolidation of our electoral process.

“As far as the record of the Commission is concerned, PVCs have been printed for all valid registrants in Nigeria up to 14th January 2022 and delivered to all the States of the Federation for collection by voters. We will not allow retrogressive elements to sabotage our efforts.”

Okoye assured Nigerians that the matter will be pursued to its logical conclusion, stressing that “the issues of voter registration, a compilation of the voters’ roll and issuance of PVCs are at the heart of any democratic elections and the Commission is working hard to ensure that every eligible citizen who appears in person at the registration venue is registered”.

He also said that the commission had already started reviewing the procedure for collecting PVCs to make it less cumbersome and more transparent.

Okoye added: “This will be a major topic at the next regular quarterly meeting with stakeholders so that working together we can find a lasting solution to the issue.”

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The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has launched ‘Operation Show Your Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC)’ in all its provinces across the country.

Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Church, gave the order in a letter released by Intercontinental Youth Pastor/PICR, Belemina Obunge.

The letter read in part: “We refer to the above and wish to kindly inform you that we have received a directive from the Mission Authority to ensure a high level of sensitisation in all our parishes on the need for all our members to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

“Based on the above, Provincial Hqtrs and Mega Parishes are encouraged to use their parish as a centre for one or two days to facilitate their members’ & interested neighbours’ registration considering the closeness of the deadline (June 30th, 2022) of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise.

“Provinces will be required to send a summarised report of parishes’ compliance with the above directive to the office of the undersigned, stating the number of adult members versus the number of PVCs counted.

“The report is expected on or before 27th June 2022, for onward compilation to the Mission Authority.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has agreed to extend the ongoing Continuous Voters’ Registration (CVR) exercise by 60 days.

Registration was initially slated to end in June 30, 2022, but calls to extend the CVR exercise came from Nigerians who are yet to register.

On Wednesday, June 15, the House of Representatives urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to extend the June 30, 2022, deadline.

Briefing lawmakers on Wednesday, June 22, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, Aishatu Jibril Dukku, told her colleagues that the Commission had agreed to extend the CVR to 60 days.

She told the House at plenary today: “The Committee held a meeting with INEC yesterday (Tuesday) and they agreed to extend the CVR, all our resolutions were approved.”

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The Catholic Diocese of Pankshin in Plateau State has distanced itself from the actions of one of its priests, Rev. Fr. Kefas Gogwim, who on Sunday, June 12, denied parishioners access into the church for failing to show their Permanent Voters Card PVC.

In a viral video, the clergyman could be seen stopping parishioners at the entrance of the church.

He asked those with their PVCs to enter the church hall while those without their PVCs were asked to return home. He said his action is to encourage his members to ensure they get their PVCs so they can participate in the forthcoming general elections.

However, the Director of Communications of the Diocese, Rev Fr. Andrew Dewan Danjuma, stated in a statement that the action of the priests does not have the approval of the Bishop nor is it a policy of the diocese.

Read the statement below.

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Lagos police command has reacted to the fight which occurred at Ojo Local government after Alaba traders closed down their shops to register for Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC).

The spokesperson of the police command, Benjamin Hundeyin stated that it wasn’t about the Igbos.

He added that though the entire Alaba International Market decided to close down their shops to enable the traders to register for their PVCs, a phased closure would have been better.

Hundeyin said the situation was made worse “by the fact that only one registration terminal was working” and only one of those who came for registration made trouble and was challenged by those around.

The police spokesperson said the incident lasted for a few minutes and normalcy returned shortly afterwards.

The statement read:

“First, this wasn’t about Igbos. These are the true facts behind the trending videos. The entire Alaba International Market decided to close the market today to enable the traders to register for their PVCs. A phased closure would have been better. Consequently, the Ojo Local Government venue of the registration was besieged by a mammoth crowd. The situation was made worse by the fact that only one registration terminal was working. One of the people who came for registration made trouble and was challenged by those around.

“Going by simple probability, the attacker or the attacked is very likely to be Igbo. They were simply large in number. However, giving this incident ethnic colouration would not help matters.

“The entire episode lasted a few minutes. Sadly, recordings from those few minutes are still travelling far and wide. Normalcy has since returned and the Divisional Police Officer there is fully in charge of the security situation.”

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