…..Commission Begins PVC Distribution in Ondo
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun distribution of Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) in Akure, the Ondo State capital, yesterday with residents calling on the commission to move the exercise closer to electorate at voting point/polling units and ward levels.
When newsmen visited the INEC office in Akure South Local Government Area, some registered persons were seen in the queue waiting to collect their PVCs.
One of the people, who came to collect their PVCs, 81-year-old Pa. Francis Babarinsa, disclosed that though he, his wife and daughter were given attention because of their age.
He disclosed that he relocated from Zaria, Kaduna State but when search was made for his data which he did in Zaria, it could not be found on the commission’s data bank.
Pa. Babarinsa said he with his family had to do another registration, which he said had been confirmed and asked to come for the PVC in January.
Speaking on his resolve to participate in the elections, Pa. Babarinsa lamented the current socio-economic decadence in the country, blaming the situation on poor leadership and charged INEC to make the distribution more easier for voters in view of economic hardship and fuel crisis.
He noted that the needed a democratic revolution that would take the country out of the woods.
Pastor Adeboboye Kehinde, who resided at Adofure area of Akure, lamented that he and other people who came to collect their PVCs spent too much time in the queue due to inadequate number of officials attending to them.
He suggested that the distribution of the PVCs should be taken to ward level to make it easier and save people a lot of money spent on transport fare.
“I have spent over 3hours here waiting to collect my PVC due to the crowd and few officials attending to us.
“I reside at Adofure and travelling from their to here cost me N300 and I will pay another N300 to return home.
“Those staying at Ala Elofosan will spent nothing less than N1000 to get here and return home.
“So, I will suggest that INEC should take to PVCs to the wards afterall there are collation centres at the ward level,” Adeboboye said.
Aliu Omobolanle, who was at the INEC office, lamented that the process was t9 slow.
She said she spent over 5 hours waiting in the queue to collect her PVC.
Omobolanle noted that the process of collection could discourage many people from coming to collect their PVCs.
