About 139,342 PVCs Uncollected In Enugu State- INEC
BY RAPHAEL ONYEKACHUKWU, ENUGU – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has decried the high level of apathy in election process among people of the South-east geo-political zone, especially in Enugu State.
It has therefore called on the people to seize the opportunity provided by the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise to register and obtain their permanent voter cards in preparation for the 2019 General Elections.
The Enugu State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Emeka Ononamadu, made the call Tuesday at the NUJ Enugu Unity hall, during an interaction with the media as critical stakeholders in electoral process in Nigeria.
Ononamadu said a total number of 56,562 voters were registered in the second quarter of the CVR that ended on September 19 in the state, as against the over 69,000 registered in the first quarter, and described it as a negative development for the State and its people.
Fielding questions from journalists, the REC said 139,342 Permanent Voters Card (PVC) has remained uncollected at the council offices of the commission in Enugu State.
He said through INEC’s intensive enlightenment between July 31 and September 19, INEC was able to distribute 4,716 PVCs within the 17 council areas of the state.
Ononamadu regretted that Enugu North and Enugu East council areas had the highest number of uncollected PVCs; stressing the development can be attributed to the high number of students and short-stay residents in the two council areas.
The REC said the responsibility of INEC and its stakeholders, especially the media, is to ensure that continuous and far-reaching awareness was carried out to reverse the trend.
While announcing that the third quarter of CVR exercise would commence on October 30 and run for three months; he said that at present a copy of the second quarter CVR is on display at each council’s headquarters for claims and objections.
“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.
