Ahead of the 2015 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission will begin the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards in 10 states .
The commission has however called on every registered voter in the 10 states under Phase One to visit the polling unit, where they previously registered in order to ascertain their registration status.
A statement on Thursday in Abuja by the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, said, the distribution of PVCs would end on Sunday in Taraba, Gombe, Zamfara, Kebbi, Benue, Kogi, Abia, Enugu, Akwa-Ibom and Bayelsa states.
He said, “Persons whose data have been appropriately captured will be handed their PVCs at the polling units in accordance with set procedures. Those with defective data, for whom PVCs have not been produced, will have the opportunity to re-register during the Continuous Voter Registration that holds from Wednesday, May 28, 2014, to Sunday, June 1, 2014.
“There will be a display of the valid Register of Voters at the polling units where the PVCs will be distributed. It is, thus, important for every voter to visit his/her polling unit from Friday, May 23 to Sunday, May 25, 2014, to ascertain his/her registration status; contrary to suggestions that persons in so-called ‘zero polling units’ need not show up.”
According to him, the CVR is for “persons who turned 18 years after the last registration; persons who were 18 years at the time but did not present themselves for registration; and persons whose data were not adequately captured previously and for whom PVCs have not been produced.”
It added, “For avoidance of doubt, the exercise is not for everyone, including people wishing to transfer their registration data from where they previously registered. INEC particularly urges persons in category (iii) above to be calm and re-present themselves for registration during the CVR, to have their status regularised.”