Enugu State Resident Electoral Commisioner of the Independent National Electoral Commisioner, (INEC), Dr Emeka Ononamadu, has expressed concern over the 175,678 uncollected Permanent Voters Cards in the state less than two months to 2019 general election.
Ononamadu stated this at INEC headquarters in Enugu on Friday during the CSO and IPAC stakeholders meeting on the state preparedness, party primaries and display of PVR.
He said, “The state of PVC collection and printing is progressing well. While the total of uncollected PVCs stand at 175,678 both 2014 and 2018 PVCs. The number of uncollected PVCs is worrisome and this summit is expected to find solution to it, in addition to what we have done in the past.
“On PVC status. Out of the 1,958,000 registerd voters in Enugu State, only 1,504,858 have collected their PVCs as at November 11th, 2018 and therefore ready for 2019 general elections. While we await the printing of 298,011 PVCs of those who registered in the CVR last quarter of 2018. We call on the owners of 175,678 uncollected PVCs to go to our offices and collection points to pick up their PVCs.
“Our expectation is for this gathering to fashion out implementable recommendations that will ensure that over 80% of those who collected their PVCs turn up and vote during 2019 general election. If that happens, we expect over 1,204,886 to vote in 2019 general election and together we will be making history in Enugu state,” he added.
The REC disclosed that the commission in the state has procured 4,190 smart card readers which show a balance 534 extra SCRS as backups, adding that more are being procured to ensure adequate back-up going.
Ononamadu explained that there were 2,958 polling units and about 708 voting points in 260 registration area in the 17 local government areas of Enugu State, saying, “out of the National Fresh Registration of 14,555,482 Enugu State registers 549,326,00. Out of the National Transfer Requests of 769,917, Enugu state had 5,427. The total number of registerd voters in Enugu for 2019 election stand as 1,978,547.00.
He stated further that the PVCs to be printed across the country for the 2019 general elections would be 16,500,192, noting, “the PVCs for 2017 registrants had been printed and delivered to the states for collection while those of 2018 first quarter has also been printed and would be delivered to the states the following weeks,”.
He assured that all registered voters in Enugu would have their PVCs before the 2019 general elections, adding that PVC collection in Enugu would continue until a week before the 2019 general elections.
“The process of collection would be simplified with minimum inconvenient to citizens as the election approaches and the information for the collection would be wisely disseminated,” he said.
Ononamadu thereby assured INEC readiness to conduct free fair and credible election in Enugu state, saying, “I hope to meet you after the 2019 general election to give account of my stewardship without any fear of contradictions. I believe that we will continue to remain partners in the project of delivering credible elections to Nigeria.
Besides, the spokesperson of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the state, Sunny Nweke, assured the determination of CSOs to continue to partner with INEC in educating the electorate for peaceful and credible elections in 2019.
He thereby advised politicians to demonstrate decorum in their activities to prevent pre and post-election crisis, which, according to him, does not speak well for the country’s democracy.