Politics

BREAKING: INEC Extends PVC Collection Deadline

Published

3 weeks ago

January 12, 2023

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission has extended the deadline for the collection of Permanent Voter Cards until Sunday, January 29, 2023.

INEC earlier fixed the collection deadline as Sunday, January 22, 2023.

After a meeting on Thursday, INEC said it had pushed the deadline by eight days.

“The Commission is determined to ensure that registered voters have ample opportunity to collect their PVCs ahead of the forthcoming election. For this reason, the timeframe for the collection of PVCs is extended by eight days,” INEC National Commissioner Festus Okoye said in a statement.

“Instead of ending on Sunday January 22, 2023, the collection of PVCs will continue until Sunday January 29, 2023. At the moment, the period of collection is 9.00 am – 3.00 pm daily (including Saturdays and Sundays).”

Okoye also disclosed that over 100,000 PVCs were collected in some states since the commission took the collection of PVCs to Ward on January 6.

The statement read, “The Commission is encouraged by the turnout of registered voters and the surge in the number of collected PVCs across the country. In some of the states, as many as 100,000 PVCs were collected in the last five days since the devolution to ward level started on Saturday, January 6, 2023.

“The Commission is determined to ensure that registered voters have ample opportunity to collect their PVCs ahead of the forthcoming election.

“For this reason, the timeframe for the collection of PVCs is extended by eight days.

“As a result of this extension, there is a consequential adjustment of the collection by location as follows:

“Collection at the Registration Area (Ward) level is extended by one a week from Monday 16th – Sunday 22nd January 2023.

Collection at Local Government level will resume on Monday 23rd – Sunday 29th January 2023.”

Okoye also said the commission was investigating the allegations of extortion against some of its officials, assuring that anyone found culpable would be sanctioned.

“Meanwhile, the Commission is investigating allegations of extortion by officials at some of the collection centres and inducement by some unscrupulous voters to circumvent processes in order to obtain their PVCs. Those found culpable will be face disciplinary action and/or prosecution.

“Similarly, the Commission is disturbed by allegations of discriminatory issuance of the PVCs in some locations. This is against the law. All bonafide registrants are entitled to their PVCs and to use them to vote on Election Day in any part of the country where they are registered. Resident Electoral Commissioners have been directed to ensure that no such practices occur nationwide and take immediate disciplinary action against violators,” the statement added.

He, however, disclosed that a total of 13,868,441 PVCs had been printed for new valid registrants.

The National Commissioner said, “For the record, the Commission has printed 13,868,441 PVCs for all new valid registrants as well as applicants for transfer or replacement of cards. Nevertheless, issuing officers should compile any complaints about non-availability of cards and forward them to their immediate supervisors for the attention of Resident Electoral Commissioners who shall compile and forward them for necessary action.

“The Commission once again appreciates the patience and perseverance of citizens as we continue to finetune our process to make the collection of PVCs easier.”

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News

South, Middle Belt Leaders To Resist Derail Of Peaceful Transition

Published

13 hours ago

February 3, 2023

Editor

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has vowed to oppose any attempt to foil peaceful transition of power after the 2023 election.

The body chaired by Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark had on Thursday reaffirmed support for Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi.

A former Information Minister, John Nwodo warned those who plan to disrupt the general polls fixed for February 25 and March 11.

Nwodo stated that the forum and all well-meaning citizens will not allow those who “try to change the hands of the clock of Nigeria”.

“We will not allow them to derail a peaceful transition to the next civilian government of this country.

“We shall rise like one-man in defence of the ballot box and that Nigerians must go to vote”, the ex-Ohanaeze President-General asserted.

Since late 2022, Southern leaders and groups have openly declared support for Obi, a former Anambra governor, insisting power must return to the region.

Obi enjoys support for the youth demography but faces an herculean task as he seeks to pilot the retirement of the old guards in Nigeria’ politics.

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Politics

Tinubu: Fani-Kayode Calls For Removal, Arrest Of CBN Gov, Emefiele

Published

13 hours ago

February 3, 2023

Editor

A spokesperson for the All Progressive Congress, APC, presidential Campaign Council, Femi Fani-Kayode has called for the removal and arrest of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN governor, Goodwin Emefiele.

There are insinuations at the camp of the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu that the move by the apex bank was targeted at frustrating the party during the forthcoming elections.

The CBN governor had several times, debunked the allegations, stressing that the move has no political motives.

But Fani-Kayode in a tweet on his official handle on Friday said Emefiele wants to scuttle the election by causing chaos via the currency crisis.

The tweet reads, “Let me make this clear. Emefiele has NO intention of releasing new naira notes until March. He wants people to suffer, he wants chaos & he wants to scuttle the election.

“He is a dangerous pawn in the hands of sinister anti-democratic forces. Remove, arrest & detain him NOW”!

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Politics

Tinubu: Atiku Loves The Masses, Hates Influence Of Bullion Van In 2023 Elections – Shaibu

Published

14 hours ago

February 3, 2023

Editor

The Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organization said the former Vice President is in support of the cashless policy for his love for the masses and hates the influence of bullion van in the election.

The Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai had alleged that Atiku is behind the lingering currency scarcity across the country.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described it as inglorious for the Kaduna State governor to play politics with the situation, instead of sympathizing with the masses.

He stated “For the avoidance of doubt, the currency crisis (and indeed all other crises), as it stands today, is a mess created by the APC and it will be imprudent of the Kaduna State governor or anyone else to associate the PDP or its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar with the crisis.

“It is curious why Governor el-Rufai and other elements of his ilk in the APC had to wait this long before they found it contingent to speak in disapproval of policies initiated by their political party. Perhaps, it is because, for them, self-interest in an election season is more important than the public interest.

“As a matter of fact, the lingering fuel scarcity and, indeed, the currency crisis of which el-Rufai so bitterly complained about did not just start today. In major cities across the country, Nigerians have been contending with the problem of fuel scarcity for almost two years in some places like the Federal Capital Territory, while el-Rufai and others crying foul in the APC turned blind eyes to the plight of Nigerians.

“On the contrary, Atiku Abubakar and the PDP have persistently brought the attention of the country to the sufferings of Nigerians by the APC administration in the past almost eight years.

“Nigerians surely know better who loves them more between Atiku who has remained on the side of the masses and the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu who has never come out in defense of the people against the hardship that the APC has subjected the country to since it took power in 2015.

“If Mallam el-Rufai is interested in knowing who hates the people of Nigeria, he should look in the direction of his political master who drove two bullion vans into his residence on the eve of election day in 2019”.

Shaibu said the APC and its presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu are crying foul to the currency change policy because they fear the policy will frustrate their alleged vote-buying plans.