INEC Reschedules PVC Distribution In Omuma; Youth Disrupt Exercise In Omuma …Groups Urge 7 Days Extension

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Rivers State, has rescheduled the commencement of distribution of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) in nine Local Government Areas (LGAs).
The LGAs are Abua/Odual, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Akuku Toru, Asari Toru, Andoni, Bonny, Eleme and Degema.
Distribution of the PVCs in these areas, earlier shifted to hold between Sunday, November 30 to Tuesday, December 2, has been rescheduled to hold from December 5 to 7.
Addressing stakeholders in Port Harcourt at the weekend, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in the state, Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak explained that the postponement was due to late delivery of materials meant for the exercise.
Accordingly, the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise of the affected LGAs have been rescheduled to hold from December 10 to 14.
It will be recalled that this is the second postponment of the exercises since November 7, 2014.
Last Thursday, in a similar meeting with the media, the REC announced that contrary to widespread expectations that last Friday’s commencement of the PVC distribution, it will take place in only 14 LGAs.
Meanwhile, the PVC distribution on the selected 14 LGAs commenced as scheduled last Friday, and ended yesterday.
In a related development, the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) in Rivers State has launched a hastag media campaign to encourage mass participation by Rivers people in the collection of permanent voters cards (PVC).
The State Coordinator of the group, Mrs Mina Ogbanga who stated this at press briefing at the weekend in Port Harcourt, said that the media campaign with the slogan “Oya Go Register” was meant to mobilize Rivers people to participate fully in the exercise.
Ogbanga who is the country Representative of the centre for Development and Support Initiative (CEDs) also said that a community strategy to ensure full sensitisation of communities across the state for the exercise had also been launched.
She described the exercise as critical for Rivers State, noting that, for the people to effect charges in the polity in the forth-coming elections they must get their permanent voters cards.
Meanwhile, the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the on-going collection of permanent voters cards in the state.
The State Co-ordinator of the group, Mrs Mina Ogbanga shortly after monitoring the exercise in Port Harcourt, called for extension of the exercise for one week and urged the women to participate fully in the exercise.
Meanwhile, youths of Omuma Local Government Area in Rivers State have halted the ongoing Permanent Voter card collection (PVC) in the area.
The Tide learnt that the youths prevented the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from carrying out the exercise which is ongoing in 12 local government areas in the state.
Sources hinted The Tide that the youths protest followed claims that those trained as ad hoc staff of INEC during the on-going PVC exercise were dropped.
It was also learnt that the youths stopped the Commission from carrying out the exercise in the 130 units in the local government, insisting that  except those who were trained for the exercise, who were Omuma indigenes.
Speaking to The Tide, the INEC Public Relations Officer, Tonia Amaobi said the commission in the state is expected to meet with community heads and the Caretaker Committee Chairman today, Monday to tackle the matter.
Amaobi noted that the Commission insisted on using National Youth Service Corpe members for the exercise for effective and efficient distributions of the PVC, regretting that about five years ago, the NYSC stopped deploying corpers to the area due to the kidnap of Five female corpers in 2010.
She explained that the local government area has about 130 units and that it required about 200 staff to man the positions.
She however said the commission has scheduled meeting with community and the executive of the local government council to discuss the issues as well as find a solution.

Ike Wigodo

APC Governorship candidate in Rivers State, Hon. Dakuku Peterside (right) and member of the Party’s Board of Trustees, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja (left) display their Permanent Voter’s Cards after collection in Opobo Town, Rivers State, last Saturday.