From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has notified those that applied for replacement of their lost and or damaged Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), that the cards are ready for collection.
It also announced the devolving of PVCs collection to the 8,809 Registration Areas/Wards from Friday (today) to Sunday January 15, 2023.
The information was contained in a statement signed by National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, and made available to newsmen in Abuja.
“All those that applied for replacement of lost, damaged, or defaced PVCs can collect their PVCs at the Registration Area/wards during this period and the same thing applies to those that registered prior to the 2019 general election and are yet to collect their cards.
“The commission held its regular weekly meeting and deliberated on several issues, including the venue for the National Situation Room and Collation Centre for the 2023 General Election.
“As general elections approach, the commission establishes a National Situation Room and Collation Centre where the results of presidential elections are collated.
“Once again, the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja will serve as the venue for this important exercise.
Accordingly, the Commission has established two committees for this purpose.
“First is the Collation Secretariat, where presidential results from the States will be collated. This will be headed by the Chairman of the Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, in exercising his constitutional responsibilities as the Chief Electoral Commissioner of the Federation and Returning Officer for the Presidential election. In addition, a few technical staff will assist him,” the statement read.
It further announced that; “the second is the Situation Room and Collation Centre Committee, which shall be responsible for the preparation of the venue, seating arrangement, utilities and services, security, the accreditation of party agents, as well as the national and international observers, media, etc.
“The Committee has the following membership: May Agbamuche-Mbu, Chairperson, National Commissioners Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, Festus Okoye, Director, Electoral Operations, Director, ICT, Director, Planning and Monitoring, Director, Security, Director, Election & Party Monitoring and Director, International Cooperation & Protocol.
Others are Director, Research, Director, Health Services, Director, Estate, Works and Transport, Chief Technical Adviser to the Chairman, Special Adviser to the Chairman, Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman, and Director, Commission Secretariat, Member/Secretary.
“The Situation Room and Collation Centre Committee was inaugurated by the Chairman of the Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, who charged it to commence work in earnest and to discharge its responsibilities diligently,” the statement read.