NGOs Urge Public To Take Advantage Of Deadline Extension For PVC Collection

Two NGOs, African Bridge Initiative and Initiative of Change Nigeria on Saturday urged the public to take advantage of the deadline extension for the collection of the Permanent Voters Card (PVC)

The Independent National Electoral Committee (INEC) had extended the deadline by eight days to ensure that everybody can get their PVC to facilitate the voting process.

The deadline for the collection of the PVC was initially for Jan. 22 but it had been extended to Jan. 30.

Mr Opeluwa Taiwo, Founder, African Bridge Initiative in an interview with NAN in Lagos commended INEC for the extension saying that it would afford enough opportunity for people to get their PVC.

Taiwo also said that his NGO alongside Initiative of Change Nigeria on Thursday sensitised Bariga community on the importance of getting their PVC from their wards in order to facilitate the voting process.

"We have been organising series of events aimed at sensitising the public to go to their wards and collect their PVCs in order to facilitate the voting process.

"INEC will not count Facebook, twitter or instagram, so I urge you to get your PVC and empower yourself to vote for your candidate.

"The PVC is your power to choose the right candidate, power to choose a better economy, power to choose a better restructuring for Nigeria so it's important you get it," he said.

Mr Julius Opara, Administrative Manager, Initiative of Change Nigeria said that there were over 1.6 million uncollected PVCs in the various wards and local government areas still waiting to be claimed by their owners.

"So, we want people to go and collect these PVCs because it is their power and right that gives them access to vote.

"That is why we are saying that everyone that has reached eligible age and registered should go and collect their cards at the various wards the PVCs have been devolved to.

"There is no PVC collection centre on social media so you should go out to the wards from 9 a.m in the morning to 3 p.m to collect your PVC and vote your choice candidate," he said.

Opara said that it was important to collect it because the card determined who would represent the country and give us the comfortable type of living that we are all agitating for.

He said the voting process should not be left in the hands of the politicians alone and that the youths should take charge because they had the population to dictate the pace through their PVC.

"The youths have the power and they have the population so they should take back their mandate through their PVCs," Opara said.

Also, Mr Buba Luka, Head of Unit, Civil Society Organisations (CSO) INEC, Lagos State said that the unit collaborates with CSOs to sensitise the public on the importance of collecting the PVCs.

Luka said that the extension of the deadline would afford CSOs more time to conduct sensitisation programmes and reach out to more communities in the state.