If you have registered for your Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) but there has been no time to pick it up, we bring good tidings. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has pushed the deadline for PVC collection from January 22 to January 29, 2023! This was announced by the INEC National Commissioner, Festus Okoye, in a statement released on January 12, 2023.
But why was the deadline extended?
INEC gave two specific reasons why they gave Nigerians more time to get their PVCs. They are:
Massive Voter Turnout
Since January 6, the number of voters who have collected their PVCs has risen dramatically to as high as 100,000.
The deadline extension is simply a pat on the head for the turnout of Nigerians so far in collecting their PVCs. It is also a gesture to encourage defaulters to pick theirs.
To investigate extortion by officials
Asides giving Nigerians a second chance, Okoye has decided to use the extension to play ‘Sherlock Holmes’. This is to fish out INEC officials guilty of demanding bribes from voters for PVC collection.
According to Okoye, “the Commission is investigating allegations of extortion by officials at some of the collection centres and inducement by some unscrupulous voters to circumvent processes in order to obtain their PVCs. Those found culpable will face disciplinary action and/or prosecution.”
INEC officials better watch their back now. Otherwise…
How would the PVCs now be collected?
Due to the deadline extension, a few things have changed about the timelines and locations for PVC collection:
- PVC collection at the registration area (Ward) level is extended by one week from Monday 16th – Sunday 22nd January 2023.
- PVC collection at the local government level will resume on Monday, 23rd – Sunday, 29th January 2023.
How to pick up your PVC
To make your PVC collection less stressful, we made a 4-step list of what you should do so you don’t have to:
- Go to the state where you did your registration.
- Locate the local government area (LGA), LGA code with the registration area name (RA Name and code), and the collection centre/ward. You can find the addresses of these wards here.
- Show up at the collection centre with either your temporary voter card, photocopied driving license, photocopied National Identity Card or passport photo
- And voila! You now have your PVC to vote for your favourite candidate in February!
Good luck!
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