The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said on Thursday that it would distribute 1.6 million permanent voter cards in Akwa Ibom.
The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Gabriel Ada, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo that the three-day exercise would commence on May 23.
Prof Attahiru Jega, INEC chairman.
“If all registered voters in 2011 will turn up, we are expected to distribute permanent voter cards to 1.6 million persons in the state”, Ada said.
The commissioner said apart from security operatives, the commission had engaged 3,311 personnel to handle the distribution across the state.
Ada disclosed that the distribution would take place in 2,980 polling units in the 329 wards of the state.
He said that people were expected to exchange their temporary voter cards for the permanent ones from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily for the three days.
Ada said the register of voters would be displayed at each polling unit and those whose names were found on the register would collect the permanent voter cards.
“The permanent voter cards will be given to those with temporary voter cards. There shall be no collection of permanent voter cards by proxy”, Ada said.
He explained that those who lost their temporary voter cards and can properly identify themselves would be given the permanent cards.
Ada explained that the permanent voter cards were smart cards with bio-data and bio-metric information as well as facial image stored.
NAN reports that the distribution of permanent voter cards is to be carried out nationwide in three phases.
The first phase commencing from May 23 to 25, will take place in 10 states of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Benue, Enugu, Gombe, Kebbi, Kogi, Taraba and Zamfara.