Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Over 200,000 Permanent Voter’s Cards, PVCs, are yet to be collected in Abia State according to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC in charge of the state, Professor Ike Uzochukwu, disclosed this Friday during a press conference at the INEC headquarters, Ogurube Layout Umuahia.
He called on owners of the uncollected PVCs to pick them at the INEC office in the Local Government Area where they registered before the deadline for PVC collection slated for Sunday, February 5.
The REC who said that INEC was prepared to conduct free and fair elections in the state urged eligible voters not to disenfranchise themselves.
He also disclosed that INEC had scheduled a mock accreditation tomorrow (Saturday) to test-run the efficiency of the Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS machines.
The mock accreditation, according to him, will hold in six LGAs of the three senatorial zones.
He said that two polling units had been selected in each of the wards in the affected LGAs for the exercise.
The exercise, according to him, is also aimed at noting the various challenges with the use of BVAS for elections.
He urged voters in the affected LGAs to turn out en masse for the exercise.
The REC said INEC was prepared for credible polls in the state, and solicited the cooperation of Abians for the success of the forthcoming elections.
He disclosed that the Commission had undertaken training of security personnel and ad hoc staff that would be involved in the forthcoming polls in the state.
Professor Uzochukwu expressed hope that the forthcoming polls would be successful in the state.
He appealed to various stakeholders including the media to assist the electoral umpire in sensitising the masses on a peaceful election.
