The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has insisted that only eligible voters who have their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), will cast their votes on election days.
Responding to the question, “Do I need my PVC to be able to Vote?” INEC said, “YES! Only those with their PVC and that are authenticated using the BVAS device (fingerprint or facial recognition) shall be allowed to vote. NO PVC, NO VOTING!”
Also, on Thursday, Festus Okoye, INEC national commissioner, advised those without PVC to stay away from the polling units on election day.
Okoye who is also the Chairman, information and voter education committee, said no other means of identification would be used on election day, other than the PVC.
Okoye stated this while receiving IT facilities from Community Life Project (CLP) and Ford Foundation in support of the INEC Citizens Contact Centre (ICCC) on Thursday in Abuja.
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He said, “As Nigerians go to the polling units on election day we want to point out that it is a mandatory provision of the Electoral Act that every citizen who wants to vote in the coming election must have a PVC.
“It is a mandatory requirement of section 47 subsection 1 of the Electoral Act.
“So individuals that do not have PVC are not required to approach any of our polling units.
“No individual is permitted to go to the polling units and provide any other means of identification other than the PVC.
On announcement of election results, Okoye said that only INEC has the legal right to announce election.
“No media organisation, no individual, no citizen, no domestic or international election observer is permitted under the condition or under the law to announce election result.
“As some of you are aware, the Chairman of INEC is the electoral Commissioner for the whole of the federation and the returning officer for the presidential election.
“So only the chairman of the commission is permitted by the constitution and the Electoral Act to announce the presidential results.
“Any other person can be appointed by the commission to announce any other level of election,’’ he said.
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
