The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has responded to the alleged plans to destroy six million uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
The commission, in a post on its verified X handle (formerly Twitter), @inecnigeria, advised the public to discountenance the story in the media (Techeconomy not included).
The report said INEC was contemplating a policy to withdraw and destroy PVCs that have remained uncollected for a decade.
According to the newspaper, the recommendation was among 208 proposals arising from the commission review of the 2023 general elections.
The newspaper said the move stemmed from the persistent issue of unclaimed PVCs, with over six million cards still uncollected as of the 2023 elections, including many issued as far back as 2015.
It said stakeholders in the post-election review recommended that INEC address the backlog of uncollected PVCs by implementing a policy to withdraw PVCs that remain uncollected for extended periods, starting with cards issued in 2015.
The rationale, it said, is that these cards are unlikely to be claimed, and their retention clogs the voter management system.
However, INEC in the post responding to the newspaper report said:
“Our attention has been drawn to a newspaper report that the commission is contemplating the destruction of over six million uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) going back to the 2015 voter registration.
“The report is incorrect. At no time did the commission contemplate the destruction of uncollected PVCs. The public is advised to discountenance the story.”
