Jega Charges INEC Staff On PVC, CVR Exercise Jega Charges INEC Staff On PVC, CVR Exercise
From: Diana Okon-Effiong, Calabar Prof. Attahiru Jega, Chairman, National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restated the commission’s resolve to ensure a successful distribution of Permanent... Jega Charges INEC Staff On PVC, CVR Exercise
Jega...INEC boss

Jega…INEC boss

From: Diana Okon-Effiong, Calabar

Prof. Attahiru Jega, Chairman, National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restated the commission’s resolve to ensure a successful distribution of Permanent voters’s card to eligible voters nationwide.
 
He stated this in Calabar Friday at the flag-off of a two-day workshop for Electoral Officers in Anambra; Bauchi; Cross River; Ebonyi; Delta; Ondo. Oyo, Rivers, the FCT; Jigawa; Yobe; and Sokoto states.
 
Our Regional Correspondent reports that the workshop is organized train more than 3000 officers for the second phase of Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) distribution and conduct of Continuous Voters’ Registration (CVR).
 
Represented at the occasion by Mr. Mike Igini, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Cross River.
 
Jega said the exercise was aimed at ensuring a successful 2015 general elections.
 
He also warned that no one will be allowed to collect the PVC by proxy, adding that those who flout relevant laws regarding the exercise risk various jail terms.
 
The Chairman, who noted that a reliable register of voters was the bedrock of a sustainable democracy, charged Distribution Officers to ensure compliance to instructions while issuing the PVC
 
“The PVC cannot be collected by proxy nor collected without the thumb-print of the holder”. Evidence of personal collection, the names of all who collected must be written on the Distribution Register (DR).
 
“The DR is a control measure that section 16 of the Electoral Act empowers INEC to adopt in issuing of voters cards to be compiled by the Distribution officer,’’ he said.
 
The INEC boss said the last governorship election in Ekiti State witnessed the use of the PVC brought to an end the use of Temporary Voters’ Card (TVC) for all elections in Nigeria.
 
“The just concluded successful Ekiti Governorship election heralded the commencement of the use of the PVC, also brought to an end the use of the temporary voters cards for all elections in the country,’’ Jega said.
 
In his remarks, the Director, United Nations Development Project, Mourtada Deme, stated that the training aimed at strengthening the democratic character of the Nigeria political processes.     
 
“The project is to strengthen the democratic character of the Nigeria political process through the promotion of outcomes that consolidate and advances democratic governance and accountability in Nigeria,’’ he said.
 
Speaking through Prof. Bolade Eyinla, he said the UNDP/Democratic Governance for Development Project, also seeks to improve INEC’s institutional capacity to enable it succeed.
 
“It seeks to promote sustainable electoral process in Nigeria by engaging INEC to improve its institutional capacity, operational competency to enable her to undertake the continuous voters registration and ultimately issue the permanent voters card,” he said.
 
He advised the electoral officers to safeguard all sensitive materials in their possession while discharging their functions.
 
“As INEC electoral officers at the State and  Local government areas, you are not only charged with the onerous responsibility of taking custody of the voters register, you are also to ensure the efficient distribution of the permanent voters card,” Deme said.

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