140,000 Permanent Voters Cards still uncollected- Enugu REC

The Enugu State INEC Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Mr. Emeka Ononamadu, has stated that no fewer than 139, 342 Permanent Voters Card (PVC) were still uncollected from the commission’s council offices in the State.

Ononamadu, disclosed this during an interaction of the commission with its media critical stakeholders on Tuesday in Enugu.

He said that through intensive enlightenment of the commission between July 31 and Sept. 19, INEC was able to distribute 4,716 PVCs within the 17 council areas of the state.

Ononamadu said that Enugu North and Enugu East council areas had the highest number of uncollected PVC; adding: “This development can be attributed to the high number of students and short-stay residents in the two council areas’’.

The REC noted that a total number of 56,562 registered in the second quarter of the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) ended on Sept. 19 in the state; as against the over 69,000 registered in the CVR in the first quarter.

Ononamadu said that it was a negative development for the number of CVR registered candidates to slump; adding that it was a responsibility of INEC and its stakeholders especially the media to ensure that continuous and far-reaching awareness was carried out to reverse the trend.

He announced that the third quarter of CVR exercise would commence on Oct. 30 and run for three months; while presently, a copy of the second quarter CVR registration is on display at each council’s headquarters for claims and objection.

“We are here today to meet with the media, which is one of INEC critical stakeholders for a successful election as well as good governance to reach everyone in the country.

“INEC cannot do it alone; we depend on many critical stakeholders and the people to make our work and elections very successful.

“So, one aspect the media will help the commission is to reduce the growing incidences of apathy to elections and other INEC exercises in the South-East states especially Enugu State.

“Although, available indices on elections about Enugu State shows that the state was doing well compared to other states in the zone; however, there was a need and a gap to fill and perform better,’’ he said.

Ononamade challenged the media to take the commission up on any matter or issue it feels the commission was not doing well in order to assist build better and credible elections in the state and country.

“We appeal to journalists to use their good offices to assist INEC fashion-out credible election in the South-East.

“Although, we have made tremendous progress before now, we need more progress especially on the need to douse tension in the land and sensitize our people on the benefits of participating en mass in INEC exercises and elections.

“So, we are carrying all our stakeholders along especially as the commission has started continuous CVR still the 2019 General Elections proper.

“I sincerely believe as we get it right by starting with media parleys and the continuous CVR, the 2019 General Elections will be the best the country had ever witnessed,’’ he assured.

Moses Oyediran, Enugu