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Tag: pvcs

  • Elections: 73-year-old woman, two others nabbed with 20 PVCs in Benin

    Elections: 73-year-old woman, two others nabbed with 20 PVCs in Benin

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has nabbed a 73-year-old woman, Comfort Muoneke, for being in possession of 20 Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs.

    Two of her accomplices, Afekhana Esther and Segun Osaimokhai, were also arrested.

    The EFCC in a statement on its Facebook page on Sunday said, “Operatives of the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, have arrested three persons for being in possession of several Permanent Voter Cards.

    “One of the suspects, Afekhana Esther, was arrested at Ward 1, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Ikpoba Okha, Benin City, with 20 PVCs belonging to different people.

    “She claimed that the cards were handed over to her by the duo of Comfort Muoneke, a 73-year-old woman and Segun Osaimokhai.

    “The suspects have made useful statements and will be arraigned in court as soon as the investigation is completed.”

  • 2023 Elections: 87 million PVCs collected so far – INEC

    2023 Elections: 87 million PVCs collected so far – INEC

    Just two days to the presidential election in the country, the Independent National Electoral Commission has said that a total of 87,209,007 Permanent Voter Cards have been collected across the country.

    INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, announced the development on Thursday during a media briefing at the national collation centre in Abuja.

    Although the number increased after the Commission extended the deadline from January 29 to February 5.

    The population of Nigeria is estimated to be around 200,000 million but over 87 million have secured their PVC and ready for the election which will hold on February 25th and March 11 across all polling booths in the country.

  • PVCs: INEC reacts to compromise alleged by PDP in Lagos

    PVCs: INEC reacts to compromise alleged by PDP in Lagos

    The INEC in Lagos State has described as untrue, allegations by the PDP that some members of the commission were colluding with the APC to manipulate the ongoing Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) distribution.

    Mr Olusegun Agbaje, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos state refuted PDP’s claim in a statement on Tuesday evening by Mrs Adenike Tadese, Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity.

    According to him, INEC read with great consternation from some national dailies,  PDP’s allegations that the commission is denying some applicants their PVCs as well as cloning some PVCs.

    “It is pertinent to clarify and correct the frivolous accusation by PDP that some INEC staff are colluding with members of the ruling party in the state to deny some groups of people access to collect their PVCs.

    “Mention was equally made of Mr Muyiwa Yusuf, the Head of Department VR/ICT INEC in the state who was alleged to have connived with the APC to clone the faces of voters through the privileged access he has to the PVCs.

    “It has become necessary to comment on the recent report which far from being true,   was a gross misrepresentation and diversionary both in content and context.

    “It is obvious that this orchestrated story by PDP was fabricated to distort the reputation of INEC in the state and to soil the name of the officer in question,” Agbaje said.

    Agbaje said that eligible registrants were at no point being denied of their rights to collect the PVCs in all the 20 Local Government Areas of  the state.

    “INEC has neither political affiliation nor inclination with any party in the state. Collection of PVC is based on first come, first served,” he said.

    The commissioner added that INEC as an Election Management Body (EMB) saddled with the constitutional responsibility of conducting free and fair election had no reason to clone PVCs,  knowing that cloned cards would not be authenticated on election day.

    He said that INEC’s new technology, Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would never authenticate any cloned PVCs on election day.

    He added: “The exercise being embarked upon in the commission at the moment is the scanning of PVCs to harvest phone numbers of eligible registrants yet to collect their cards with a view to contacting them via bulk sms.

    “The commission strongly believes in equity, transparency, integrity and fairness in the conduct of her business.

    “We shall continue to uphold these fundamental principles in the discharge of our constitutional duties and responsibilities as an un-biased umpire to all stakeholders.”

    Recall that PDP on Monday at a news conference, alleged manipulation, oppression and intimidation of voters by the APC in the state ahead of the polls.

    The PDP said that some INEC staff were aiding and colluding with the APC  in the manipulation of PVCs distribution in the state.

  • Why I’m yet to tell Nigerians who will win 2023 presidential election – Pastor Adeboye

    Why I’m yet to tell Nigerians who will win 2023 presidential election – Pastor Adeboye

    General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye has disclosed why he is yet to open up on who will win the 2023 presidential election.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Pastor Adeboye, fondly referred to as Daddy GO, made the disclosure at the January 2023 Holy Ghost Service of the RCCG during his sermon titled: “Wonderful”.

    While stressing that people cannot be deceived when they begin to hear from God for themselves, the revered man of God said any prophet who says God has revealed who will win the 2023 presidential election is a liar.

    Adeboye said: “Let me tell you one thing. This is for your ears only. Anyone who is prophesying now, telling you this is the fellow who will win, is deceiving you.

    “You know why? Daddy has not spoken yet. He hasn’t said anything. So, if you say somebody released a prophecy, saying somebody from this place is the [winner], na lie o”.

    Pastor Adeboye said he cannot disclose the winner of the 2023 presidential election yet because God has not revealed it to him yet.

    “How can I tell you what He hasn’t told me?” Adeboye questioned rhetorically, adding “you want me to lie to you?”

    He, however, charged members of the church gathered at the old auditorium of the RCCG located along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway to get their permanent voter’s cards (PVCs) ready for the elections.

    “Get your PVC ready. If He doesn’t say anything, when it is time to vote, vote as the Spirit of God would direct you. If He tells me, well, I may tell you; I may not.

    “That is why you must let Him come into you so you can hear from Him directly and nobody would be able to deceive you anymore,” Pastor Adeboye said.

    TNG reports the presidential election will hold on Saturday, 25 February 2023 to elect a new president to replace President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Top in the race are Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party; Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); Bola Tinubu, candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Meanwhile, 18 political parties and their presidential candidates were cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2023 presidential election.

  • 2023: INEC kicks off collection of PVCs at registration areas/wards in Rivers

    2023: INEC kicks off collection of PVCs at registration areas/wards in Rivers

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Rivers, on Thursday said that the collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) at the Registration Areas/Wards will start from Friday, Jan. 6, till Jan. 15.

    Mr Mark Usulor, the Head of Department Voter Education and Publicity, INEC, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen by the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mrs Geraldine Ekelemu, in Port Harcourt.

    Usulor, on behalf of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, said that collection of PVCs will revert to the INEC Local Government offices from Jan. 16 to 22.

    He urged those unable to collect their PVCs at the LGA offices of the Commission to do so at the Registration Areas/Wards at the stipulated dates.

    He appealed to all stakeholders to provide a peaceful and enabling environment for the Commission staff to successfully carry out the exercise at the 319 Registration Areas/Wards in the State within the stipulated period.

  • Collection of PVCs at registration areas/wards begins today

    Collection of PVCs at registration areas/wards begins today

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) at registration areas/wards across the country will commence today.

    In a statement by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye on Thursday in Abuja, the commission said that the collection of PVCs at ward level would end on Jan. 15.

    Okoye urged all registered voters yet to collect their voter’s cards to use the opportunity to do so.

    “The devolution of PVC collection to the wards commences… Friday, Jan. 6 2023, and all validly registered voters who are yet to collect their PVCs are encouraged to seize the opportunity of the devolution to the wards to do so.

    “After Jan. 15, the exercise will revert to the Local Government Offices of the Commission until Jan. 22. All eligible and valid registrants can collect their PVCs from 9am to 3pm daily, including Saturdays and Sundays.

    “All those that applied for replacement of lost, damaged, or defaced PVCs can collect their PVCs at the Registration Area/wards during this period and the same thing applies to those that registered prior to the 2019 general election and are yet to collect their cards.

    “The PVCs of those that applied for transfer are available for collection in the Local Governments and Registration Areas where they intend to vote and not in the State or Local Government where they carried out the transfer.”

    Okoye said that INEC appreciated the patience and understanding of Nigerians who trooped to its various Local Government Offices to collect their PVCs.

    He said that in making the cards available for collection, INEC was also working to ensure that the process was simple and hitch-free for Nigerians.

    It would be recalled that the commission held a retreat in Lagos with all the Administrative Secretaries and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) from the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory from Nov. 28, 2022 to Dec. 2, 2022.

    INEC at the retreat finalised the procedure and the timetable for collection of PVCs and consequently the collection of PVCs commenced in all the 774 local government offices of the commission throughout the Federation.

    The commission also resolved that collection of PVCs should begin in the 8,809 Registration Areas/Wards from Friday Jan. 6 to Sunday Jan. 15.

  • 2023 Elections: INEC accuses politicians of purchasing PVCs

    2023 Elections: INEC accuses politicians of purchasing PVCs

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has alleged that some politicians have purchased Permanent Voter Cards, (PVCs) in order to rig and mar the credibility of the forthcoming general elections coming up in 2023.

    Recall that INEC pronounced the collection of PVCs by prospective voters across the 774 local government areas across the country.

    INEC started the process on the 12th of December and it will run till the 27th of January 2023.

    The Acting Chairman of INEC and National Commissioner overseeing the FCT, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Plateau states, Mohammed Haruna, raised this alarm on Monday during the launch of #YourVoteMatters project by an election observer group, NESSACTION, in Abuja.

    Haruna also added that the commission convicted two persons in Kano and Sokoto states for  the illegal possession of PVCs.

    He explained further that buying and illegal possession of PVCs for whatever reason is criminal and a punishable offence by law.

    “Some of you are aware that only recently, INEC managed to convict two people who were found guilty of illegally possessing PVCs in Kano and Sokoto. So, I urge people to collect their PVCs, keep them safely, and make sure you go out there and cast your votes on the election day because you cannot vote without your PVCs.” He said.

  • BREAKING: INEC announces dates for collection of PVCs nationwide

    BREAKING: INEC announces dates for collection of PVCs nationwide

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has finally announced dates for the collection of permanent voter’s cards (PVC) across the country ahead of the 2023 general election.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports INEC fixed Monday 12 December 2022 to Sunday 22 January 2023 as the dates for the collection of PVCs in all the 774 Local Government Offices of the Commission throughout the Federation.

    This is following a retreat held by INEC in Lagos State with all the Administrative Secretaries and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) from the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory from 28th November to 2nd December 2022.

    At the retreat, the Commission finalised the procedure as well as the timetable for collection of PVCs.

    The Commission also resolved to devolve PVC collection to the 8,809 Registration Areas/Wards from Friday 6th to Sunday 15th January 2023. Those that are unable to collect their PVCs at the Local Government Offices of the Commission can do so at the Registration Areas/Electoral Wards. After the 15th of January 2023, the exercise will revert to the Local Government Offices of the Commission until 22nd January 2023.

    According to a statement released by Festus Okoye, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, all eligible and valid registrants can collect their PVCs from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm daily, including Saturdays and Sundays.

    The statement reads in part: “All the RECs and Electoral Officers (EOs) have been directed to convene a meeting with the critical stakeholders in their States and Local Government Areas, including traditional and religious leaders, civil society groups, community-based organisations and the media to brief them on the modalities for the collection of the PVCs in order to sensitise the public and ensure seamless exercise.

    “Similarly, RECs and EOs have also been directed to set up help desks to assist registrants with complaints about their PVCs or with the PVC collection procedure for immediate redress.

    “The Commission appreciates the patience and understanding of Nigerians, especially those who registered as voters or applied for transfer/replacement of their cards from January to July 2022. In making the cards available for collection, the Commission is also working to ensure that the process is simple and hitch-free for Nigerians”.

  • INEC counts losses as hoodlums raze office in Ebonyi

    INEC counts losses as hoodlums raze office in Ebonyi

    Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and other items were destroyed when some hoodlums set the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in the Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on fire.

    “The incident occurred around 10.00 am when some unidentified persons set the entire building ablaze,” INEC’s National Commissioner & Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said in a Sunday statement.

    “Although no casualties resulted from the attack, the main building and all the movable and immovable items inside it were destroyed. These include 340 ballot boxes, 130 voting cubicles, 14 electric power generators, large water storage tanks, assorted office furniture and fixtures, and yet-to-be-determined quantities of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).”

    He said security agencies have been informed about the most recent incident and that an investigation has started.

    “Sadly, this is the third attack on our local government office in less than three weeks following similar attacks on our offices in Ogun and Osun states on 10th November 2022,” Okoye said.

    Election offices have been attacked recently in the country’s southeast, where separatists are seeking a breakaway state for the local Igbo people, but attacks in the southwest are rarer.

    Security will be a major issue in the election with the armed forces battling an insurgency in the northeast, heavily armed criminal gangs in the northwest and central states, and separatist agitators in the southeast.

    Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria has also been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, fallout from the war in Ukraine, and its worst flooding in a decade that has impacted farms and food production.

    Nigerians go to the ballot box in February to vote for a successor to President Muhammadu Buhari, a former army commander who steps down after two terms in office.

  • UPDATE: Court refuses to order INEC to resume CVR exercise

    UPDATE: Court refuses to order INEC to resume CVR exercise

    Contrary to an earlier report, the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday refused to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to resume the continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment, held that going by the date of the verdict, INEC would have had “just a few days away from 90 days before the general elections.

    Justice Ekwo, however, declared that INEC “is expected pursuant to the provisions of Sections 76 (2), 77 (2), 116 (2), 117 (2), 132 (2) & (5) and 178 (2) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) as well as Sections 9 (1), 9 (6), 10 (1) and 12 (1) of the Electoral Acts, 2022, to continue voters registration, update and revision of voters register until 90 days before the General Election billed to take place on Feb. 25 and March 11.

    “It is the constitutional responsibility of the defendant (INEC) to make sure that every prospective Nigerian voter who has shown desire to register to vote is not deprived of their civil right to register and participate in the forthcoming general elections scheduled to take place on 25th February 2023 and 11th March 2023.”

    According to Justice Ekwo,  “this court is unable to grant relief number 3 of the plaintiffs because going by the date of this judgement, from the date of this judgement, the defendant will have just a few days away from 90 days before the general elections of 25th February, 2023 and 11th March, 2023.”

    Four plaintiffs; Anajat Salmat, Mr Earnest Stanley, Chief Charles Okafor and Mr Samuel Oluwakemi had sued INEC for discontinued the voter registration exercise on July 31. INEC was the sole defendant in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1343/2022.

    The plaintiffs had prayed the court for three reliefs which include “a declaration that the defendant is expected pursuant to the provisions of Sections 76 (2), 77 (2), 116 (2), 117 (2), 132 (2) & (5) and 178 (2) & (5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) as well as Sections 9 (1), 9 (6), 10 (1) and 12 (1) of the Electoral Acts, 2022, to continue voters registration, update and revision of voters register till 90 days before the general election.

    “A declaration that it is the constitutional responsibility of the defendant to make sure that every prospective Nigerian voter who has shown the desire to register to vote is not deprived of their civil right to register and participate in the forthcoming general elections.

    “An order of court directing the defendant to resume immediately the registration of new voters, updating and revision of the register of voters until at least 90 days to the general election slated to hold on 5th February, 2023 and 11th March, 2023.”

    Delivering the judgment, the judge said: “The case of the plaintiffs, therefore, succeeds on the merit and I answer their sole question in the negative. I also answer the questions of the defendant as follows: Question 1, partially in the positive, and Question 2, in the positive“.

    INEC, in its argument, had said that it ended the CVR exercise at the time it did because it needed to end the exercise so that the permanent voters’ cards (PVCs) could be printed in good time, and the distribution of same could commence in earnest.