The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that 98.8 percent of registered voters in Anambra State have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this during a news conference in Abuja on Thursday, describing the turnout for PVC collection as “a significant achievement” and a positive signal for electoral participation in the state.
Amupitan explained that the decision to extend the deadline for PVC collection across all 326 Registration Areas (wards) led to the impressive figure.
“Following the conclusion of voter registration and a thorough database clean-up, the commission finalised a register of 2,802,790 voters for this election on September 4. Initially, only 63.9 percent had collected their PVCs,” he said.
“To close this gap, INEC extended the PVC collection period from Wednesday, October 29 to Sunday, November 2, ensuring that collection centres were open across all 326 Registration Areas. I am delighted to share that the extension has yielded excellent results — the collection rate now stands at 98.8 percent.
“All uncollected cards will now be safely retrieved and stored at the Central Bank of Nigeria until after the election,” he added.
Amupitan urged eligible voters to turn out en masse on election day, assuring them of adequate security and smooth conduct. He, however, expressed concern over the persistent low voter turnout in previous elections, noting that the figure had steadily declined over the years.
“In 2013, voter turnout was 25.5 percent; in 2017, it dropped to 20.1 percent; and by 2021, it fell sharply to 10.27 percent. Democracy only thrives when citizens actively choose their leaders,” he said.
The INEC boss assured that all 5,718 polling units in the state would open simultaneously by 8:30 a.m., with logistics fully deployed.
“To demonstrate our commitment, four National Commissioners will remain in Anambra to personally supervise the election, supported by ten Resident Electoral Commissioners from across the country,” he stated.
He also confirmed special arrangements for voters in six Registration Areas in Ihiala Local Government facing security challenges, saying they would vote safely at the Local Government secretariat under full security protection.
“INEC is determined to deliver an election that is credible, inclusive, transparent, and efficiently executed. Anyone attempting violence, vote-buying, intimidation, or ballot interference will face swift legal consequences,” Amupitan warned.
He added that the commission had cautioned ad hoc and electoral officers against misconduct, promising disciplinary action for defaulters and commendations for efficient performance.
On the upcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Election, Amupitan reminded political parties that the deadline for submitting names of polling agents and observers remains December 15.
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