From Paul Osuyi, Asaba 
Leadership of INEC Press Corps (IPC) in Delta State has insisted the change Nigerians desire would not be achieved if the electorate failed to collect their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced the availability of PVCs for collection at the various local government collection points.
Chairman of Delta IPC, Festus Ahon urged Deltans to take advantage of the availability of PVCs and sealed their eligibility for the 2023 elections by coming forward to pick up their cards.
Ahon, in a statement issued by the public relations officer of the IPC, Austin Oyinbode said Deltans should turn out en-masse to collect the PVCs to enable them for the candidates of their choice.
“There have been series of million man marches and campaigns in progress. Many are expressing their views on the need for change in Nigeria.
“But this change will only come to fruition if registered voters collect their PVCs and cast their votes on election days.
“INEC has scheduled election for February 25, 2023 for Presidency and National Assembly, and March 11 for Governorship and state Assemblies.
“For Nigerians to get the right persons into political offices, registered voters must collect their PVCs and vote,” it stated.
The statement also noted that politicians and political party leaders should encourage their members and supporters to go out and collect their PVCs, because without the collection of the PVCs and voting, the desired change will remain an illusion.
To this end, the IPC chairman called on all Deltans and Nigerians in general to wake up and see collection of PVCs as the beginning of change in Nigeria.
Ahon said though everyone is busy with business ventures, “they should all endeavour to create time out of their busy schedules and go to the INEC local government offices and collect their PVCs.”
He also pleaded with INEC staff at the local government and ward levels to assist the people in whatever ways they can so that everyone will collect their PVCs without stress.
The Delta INEC REC, Monday Udoh-Tom, had expressed dissatisfaction with the response of the people of Delta and the political parties towards collection of the PVCs in the state.
In a recent stakeholders meeting organized by INEC, the REC lamented poor response of Deltans and the leadership of political parties to attendance to meetings with INEC and collection of PVCs.
He said despite the fact that INEC staff are doing a thankless job across the state, the people of Delta state are not coming forth to collect their PVCs.
Udoh-Tom said more than 300,000 PVCs are lying at the INEC offices across the state waiting for their owners to collect them.