The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has disclosed that no fewer than 360,794 Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, remain uncollected in Osun State.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Dr Mutiu Agboke, made the disclosure through the Commission’s Public Relations Officer, Musa Olurode, in a statement on Tuesday in Osogbo.
Agboke described the figure as troubling and urged eligible voters to take advantage of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise to collect their cards.
“We are appealing to all eligible voters who, for one reason or another, have not collected their PVCs, to visit any of our 30 local government offices or the Modakeke area office between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily to pick up their cards,” he said.
The Commission reminded residents that while fresh registration is ongoing, multiple registration is prohibited and warned that offenders risk invalidation of their data.
INEC explained that the unclaimed PVCs represent thousands of voices excluded from the democratic process, stressing that political parties, civil society organisations, religious leaders and traditional rulers should assist in mobilising citizens for prompt collection.
The REC noted that the collection of PVCs is as crucial as registration, adding that citizens cannot participate in elections without the cards.
