INEC: 81,778 new PVCs ready for collection in Anambra from Thursday

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says there are 81,778 new permanent voter cards (PVCs) to be delivered to Anambra state on Thursday. 

INEC announced the development in its update on preparations for the November 6 governorship election.

The electoral body had earlier announced the figure as 138,802 but said it dropped to 76,104 registrants after 62,698 cases of double voter registration were discovered in the state.

There are over 2.5 million registered voters in Anambra.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by Festus Okoye, national commissioner and chairman, information and voter education committee, INEC said the PVCs include those of new registrants and for other voters who applied for replacement.

“In our previous update, the Commission informed the public that a total of 138,802 Nigerians completed the registration in Anambra State. After a thorough cleaning up of the data, it was discovered that the number of multiple registrants was 62,698. Consequently, the number of valid registrants dropped to 76,104,” the statement reads.

“During the same period, there were 5,674 requests for transfers, update of voter information and replacement of lost or damaged cards, giving a cumulative total of 81,778 PVCs. These cards have been printed and will be delivered to our office in Anambra State on Thursday 28th October 2021.

“The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Anambra State and his staff shall work out the most efficient means of ensuring that the voters concerned collect their PVCs in earnest. Fortunately, the Commission has the telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of all the new registrants. They will be contacted to make the collection seamless.”

INEC further said a detailed breakdown of the list of polling agents by political parties has been uploaded to the commission’s website and social media platforms.

Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, had, on Monday, said the commission is determined to conduct the poll following assurance by security operatives on the safety of electoral officials and residents.