The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) in Nigeria has expressed concern over the low number of uncollected permanent voter cards (PVCs) as reported by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
INEC recently revealed in a statement that there were 6.7 million uncollected PVCs across 17 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Reacting to the INEC update, the TMG Chairman, Auwal Musa-Rafsanjani, called on Nigerians to go out and collect their PVCs ahead of the January 22 deadline.
He noted that the opportunity provided by INEC for registered voters to exercise their civic responsibility should be grabbed with passion ahead of the much-awaited elections.
Citing data from the 2019 presidential elections, the TMG emphasised that the 6.7 million uncollected PVCs would have been sufficient to determine the outcome of an election in which the winner, Muhammadu Buhari, received 15 million votes and his closest challenger, Atiku Abubakar, received 11.2 million votes.
‘As we gear towards the 2023 general election, the TMG is appealing to Nigerians to be ready to come out and vote and make a key decision that is instrumental to the formation of a better Nigeria’, he added.
‘No one should wait until the rush hour; the time is now and we all are advised to collect our PVCs in time so that we can get that golden opportunity to vote candidates of our choice, electing leaders is our responsibility that no one can deny anyone but without PVC, that right will be denied; so let’s go out and get our PVCs.
‘Voters must also be wary of desperate politicians who would want to induce them with monetary gifts in exchange for their voter cards, Nigerians must in the upcoming elections stand their feet and follow the electoral process from start to finish, rejecting any financial inducement or harassment’.
He further noted that the TMG will be closely monitoring the electoral process across the nation.
According to Rafsanjani, the group seeks to address issues such as electoral violence, thuggery, vote-buying, voter harassment as well as promote electoral inclusivity for women and people with disability.
Photo source: SERAP
