INEC To Develop SOP for collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards

Oru Leonard

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has disclosed that the Commission in a bid to make the collection of PVCs as seamless as possible, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), will be among the issues to be discussed and finalized at a retreat holding in Lagos from 28th November to 2nd December 2022, involving all the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) from the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This was stated in a press release signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Barrister Festus Okoye Esq on Saturday.

He said at the end of the retreat, the Commission will release the dates as well as the detailed procedure for the immediate collection of PVCs nationwide.

On Prosecution of Offenders: Okoye noted that in the last couple of weeks, the Nigeria Police has arrested some individuals found to be in illegal possession of voters’ cards in some States of the Federation. In one case, the Police has concluded investigation and handed over the case file to the Commission resulting in the successful prosecution of one Nasiru Idris at a Magistrate Court in Sokoto who was found to be in possession 101 PVCs in contravention of Sections 117 and 145 of the Electoral Act 2002. He has been sentenced to a year in prison.

Similarly, the Police in Kano State has arrested a man who was found to be in possession of 367 PVCs. The suspect has been charged to Court and the Commission is pursuing his prosecution.

The Commission reiterated that it will continue to pursue all violators of the Electoral Act and ensure their diligent prosecution.