‘PVC Has Returned Power To Electorate’

Resident Electoral Com
missioner in Cross River State, Mr. Mike Igini, last Thursday said the Permanent Voters Card has given back powers to the electorate to decide who their leaders would be in future elections.
He said apart from eliminating numerous cases of multiple registrations as experienced in the past, the new PVC has ensured that only the owners of the card could put them to use on election days.
Igini spoke in Calabar at a stakeholders meeting convened by the Independent National Electoral Commission in Cross River State ahead of the distribution of PVC to be preceded by the Continuous Voters Registration exercise from August 15 to 17, 2014.
The event attracted the State Governor, Liyel Imoke; Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kola Sodipo, representatives of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Directorate of State Security, traditional rulers, political parties, Nigerian Labour Congress, among other stakeholders.
According to Igini, the idea of the PVC is to return power to the people, adding that the commission was gradually distributing the card to the electorate in phases in the six geo-political zones.
Igini said, “The idea of the PVC is to return power to the people. You saw what happened in Ekiti State when we started the process. So, it is imperative for those who registered in 2011 to ensure that they get their PVC. On August 9, it will be the turn of Osun State, to see its workability. We are taking the processes step by step.”
He said the three-day distribution exercise in Cross River State would commence 8am in the morning, adding that the exercise would feature display of Electronic Voter’s Register at the polling units across the state.
He said, “All voters are enjoined to come with their Temporary Voters Cards to the polling units where they registered in 2011 and exchange them for the permanent ones as only the permanent ones will be used during the 2015 general elections.
“However, voters whose names are not on the displayed electronic voters register and not issued with PVC are eligible for fresh registration.”
In his comment, Imoke, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Political Matter, Mr. John Ulafor, said government was going to work with relevant stakeholders to enlighten the people on the need to participate in the forthcoming exercise.
Imoke said, “We believe that it is the people who have the ultimate powers to elect their leaders. To that extent, we have directed all agencies to mobilise the people for this exercise. It is important for all stakeholders to go out there to mobilise our people.”