As the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rounds up the nation-wide distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) this Friday, there are strong indications that Nigerians, in their millions, will vote in the 2019 elections, reports a Civil Society Group, the Progressive Impact Organisation for Community Development (PRIMORG).
PRIMORG, in the comprehensive reports of its observation of the PVC distribution, said the high enthusiasm by prospective voters in Abuja and adjoining states, to pick their PVCs is indicative of the high prospects of a high turn out in the pending elections.
PRIMORG’s Executive Director, Okhiria Agbonsuremi, in releasing the group’s observations in the six Area Councils of Abuja, and in parts of Niger and Nassarawa states in North Central Nigeria, said despite the challenge of distance to collection centres, Nigerians have demonstrated a higher level of interest in the electoral process.
PRIMORG, however, noted that INEC could have achieved more in the PVC distribution efforts if more centres were established in some areas, to bring the cards closer to the people.
PRIMORG, as part of its voter education and sensitisation programme, deployed observers between January 23 and 30, to observe the PVC collection exercise by Nigerians at the six area councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Some of the centres observed by PRIMORG observers include Former Primary School, Lagos Street Garki Village, INEC’s Electoral Office, Karu, both under AMAC, Kubwa Village 11 LEA Primary School, Dutse Alhaji LEA Primary school in Bwari Area Council, Kuje science primary school, Gwagwalada Area council INEC office, Kwali INEC office and Abaji INEC Office.
According to the INEC, the total number of registered voters, prior to the commencement of the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise on April 27, 2017 was 69,720,350. The commission registered 14,283,734 new voters in its CVR exercise between April 27, 2017 and August 31,2018, hence, the consolidated register of voters for 2019 general elections is 84,004,084
The INEC announced that the commission has printed new set of PVCs for all new registered voters between 2017 and 2018, and those who requested for replacement and transfer of their voting points, ahead of 2019 general elections, had, also, been printed and ready for collections.