The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is to issue a Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) to citizens of voting age within the first quarter of the year in preparation for the 2015 general elections.
The Akwa Ibom State Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, Dr. Gabriel Ada, made this known in Uyo. He explained that the commission will set aside a weekend for voters to visit their polling centers to obtain the Permanent Voter’s Card.
Dr. Ada said after due verification, voters will be required to exchange their temporary voter’s cards for permanent one.
The resident Electoral Commissioner said it will be mandatory during accreditation for election for each voter to present the permanent voter’s card which is electronically made at polling units for proper authentication through the use of electronic card readers before casting their votes.
Dr. Ada said before issuance of the Permanent Voter’s Card, the commission will display the list of registered voters at various polling centers for those who were left out to avail themselves of the opportunity of the Continuous Voter’s Registration (CVR) exercise to be carried out by the commission.
The Commissioner said as part of changes in organization of structure of the commission, two Assistant Electoral Officers will be posted to work with the electoral offices at each Local Government Area as against one to ease the task of conducting the election.
Dr. Ada said for easy distribution of election materials and the overall conduct of the election, INEC will open three centers known as Registration Area Center (RAC) in each Local Government Area and election materials will be delivered to these centers a day before the actual elections for further distribution to polling units in various wards.
The INEC Commissioner called on citizens to exercise their rights as the commission has empowered voters through the voter’s card to ensure that their votes count.