By Daniel Kudayah
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun distributing Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) across electoral wards in Katsina State, urging eligible voters to collect their cards ahead of future elections.
INEC’s Public Relations Officer in Katsina, Aliyu Abdullahi Garba Adosa, disclosed this in an interview.
He said the exercise covered people who registered during the first phase of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise between August and December 2021, as well as those who requested corrections to their voter details or replacement of lost cards.
Adosa said the commission had sent the available cards to designated Registration Area Centres across the state to make collection easier for residents.
He added that many eligible voters visited the centres on the first day, although turnout in some areas was lower than expected.
According to him, INEC had expected more people to turn up, especially because residents had earlier shown interest in knowing when the cards would be available.
However, he expressed hope that more people would collect their cards in the coming days.
Adosa said the ward-level distribution would run from October 9 to October 15, after which collection would continue at INEC offices in local government areas.
He explained that the commission had used media interviews, social media and public awareness campaigns to inform residents about the exercise.
The INEC spokesperson urged eligible voters to visit their designated collection centres within the period, rather than wait until election day approaches.
He stressed that collecting PVCs was free and warned residents against paying anyone to obtain their cards.
Adosa also called on community leaders, media organisations and other stakeholders to help inform residents about the exercise.
He said INEC remained committed to ensuring that eligible voters received their cards and had the opportunity to participate in future elections.
