The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday said a video circulating on social media platforms, showing some INEC staff extracting Voter Identification Numbers (VINs) from Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and entering same into their cellphones was actually caught the staff doing authorized and legitimate jobs of the Commission. The Commission said it was part
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday said a video circulating on social media platforms, showing some INEC staff extracting Voter Identification Numbers (VINs) from Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and entering same into their cellphones was actually caught the staff doing authorized and legitimate jobs of the Commission.
The Commission said it was 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.
Mr. Festus Okoye Esq, National Commissioner & Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee said in a press statement on Wednesday that the makers of the video did not get the facts of the situation.
” Makers of the video insinuate that they were doing this for the purpose of undermining the 2023 General Election. The Commission wishes to state categorically that this is far from the truth,” he said .
According to Mr. Okoye makers of the video insinuate that they were doing this for the purpose of undermining the 2023 General Election. “The Commission wishes to state categorically that this is far from the truth. makers of the video insinuate that they were doing this for the purpose of undermining the 2023 General Election. The Commission wishes to state categorically that this is far from the truth”.
Okoye explained that the Commission in its determination to enhance the rate of collection of PVCs decided to establish a PVC collection process that includes an online component.
“The procedure entails that registered voters with access to the Internet could go to a dedicated portal to ascertain whether their PVCs are ready and to find their locations for subsequent collection. 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,” he said.
He said :” 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”.
Okoye explained they while the Commission appreciates the vigilance of Nigerians and their determination to see the conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections in 2023, it was exceedingly important that information such as contained in the said video is verified before sharing it with the public.
His words ;”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”.
The Commission had in a statement last week announced that from 16th January to 22nd January 2023, collection shall revert to its Local Government offices.
He said the online facility would be available throughout the exercise to assist registered voters in locating their PVCs for collection.
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