The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, has decried the nonchalant attitude of Nigerians in the collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) saying the atittude was not in the best interest of the country for the 2019 election.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Imo, Prof. Francis Ezeonu, made this known at a sensitization meeting with stakeholders in Owerri Municipal and Owerri West Local Government Areas of Imo.
Ezeonu said the attitude was more prevalent in the South East.
He said that politics was a game of numbers which required citizens to arm themselves with their PVCs as ready tools to vote in credible candidates.
He enjoined the people to go and collect their cards and take the election processes seriously.
He cautioned politicians against collecting’ PVCs from voters and hoarding them only to bring them out during elections to cause confusion.
Ezeonu said the tour of the 27 LGAs in Imo was to sensitise the general public on the need for PVCs collection, registration as well as intimate them on the electoral rules and processes.
He allayed the fears expressed by the people saying the national office is doing all possible to handle all the challenges, assuring that hijacking of ballot boxes was now a thing of the past.
Speaking, the Electoral Officer of Owerri Municipal Council , Mr Andrew Ereforokuma,said that the commission had always believe there was the need to partner with the people inorder to have an acceptable election,.
“As we continue in our preparation towards 2019 general elections, we shall have more opportunities as this to share information and build the necessary trust for a rancor free election.”
Ereferokuma said registration exercise has so far been successful in the LGA, adding that as at the end of the first phase, data of 17,913 people (9,024 males and 8,889 females) have been captured.
The Electoral Officer of Owerri West, Mrs Ebere Orji, said the town hall meeting provided stakeholders and the commission an avenue to create the needed synergy for achieving good result in 2019.
“INEC cannot achieve a free, fair and credible election alone. It has to work in collaboration with other stakeholders for its mission to be actualised.
Orji said communities in the LG are faced with bad roads, collapsed bridges and swampy areas, which had hindered timely delivery of materials during the registration exercise.
She said the LG currently has 34, 229 uncollected PVCs.
The meeting comprised traditional rulers, the clergy, security personnels and stakeholders in the communities.
The stateholders had complained about registration centers being far from the people, alleged under-aged registration in some parts of the country as well as appealled for creation of more polling units and wards.