Over 4,000 INEC permanent voter cards stolen in Edo

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said on Tuesday that about 4, 658 Permanent Voter’s Cards, PVCs, were snatched in various places in Edo State during the distribution of the cards.

The Edo State Residential Electoral Commission, Baritor Kpagih, disclosed this while addressing journalists in Benin City, the state capital.

The distribution of the PVCs commenced last Friday and ended on Monday.

Mr. Kpagih said the PVCs were snatched in nine local government areas of the state, including Orionmwon, Etsako West and Ovia North East. He explained that 3,661 PVC were snatched in eight units of different ward in Orhionwon Council alone.

The REC said the Commission had since reported the theft to the Nigeria Police Force for investigation and prosecution of those found culpable in the crime.

He assured that anyone found with PVCs that were not legally given to them by INEC during the general elections would be arrested and handed over to the police.

Mr. Kpagih said the distribution of cards was continuing and that eligible voters could go to the INEC offices in their local government areas to collect their cards.

He said the Continuous Voter Registration would be held between November 12 and 17 for those who did not register before now, those who registered but could not found their details in the register during the just-concluded exercise and those who had just clocked the voting age of 18 years.

(Premium Times)