The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says 2,769,137 out of 2,802,790 registered Anambra voters collected their permanent voter cards (PVCs) ahead of the Saturday governorship election.

INEC chairman, Joash Amupitan, at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday, said the figure represents 98.8 per cent, describing the turnout for PVC collection as “a significant achievement” for any election in Nigeria.

He noted that the commission’s decision to extend the deadline for the collection of the cards across all 326 registration areas enabled nearly every eligible voter to obtain their card.

“Following the conclusion of voter registration and a thorough database clean-up, the commission finalised a register of 2,802,790 voters for this election on September 4. Initially, only 63.9 per cent of voters had collected their PVCs.

“To close this gap, INEC extended the PVC collection period from Wednesday, October 29, to Sunday, November 2, ensuring collection centres were open across all 326 registration areas (wards),” he said.

The INEC chair said the extension yielded positive results, adding, “The percentage of collected PVCs to registered voters now stands at an impressive 98.80 per cent.”

“This is a significant collection rate for any election in Nigeria, and it sends a clear signal. All uncollected cards will now be safely retrieved and stored at the Central Bank of Nigeria until after the election.”

Mr Amupitan urged all eligible voters to turn out en masse on election day, assuring them of their safety in the election.

He noted that the historical slide in voter participation in the state remained worrisome, citing that in the 2013 governorship election, turnout was only 25.5 per cent (413,005 valid votes from 1,770,125 registered).

“In 2017, it dropped further to 20.10 per cent (422,314 valid votes from 2,364,134 registered). In 2021, the situation deteriorated sharply with a mere 10.27 per cent turnout (241,523 valid votes from 2,466,638 registered).

“Democracy only thrives when citizens actively choose their leaders. I, therefore, urge every person in Anambra to come out and exercise their civic right without fear or favour,” he said.

Mr Amupitan said the commission was tackling deployment with a rigor that would leave no room for excuses, stating that all 5,718 polling units must open simultaneously at 8:30 a.m.

The INEC chair stated that registered voters in the six registration areas of Ihiala Local Government, which are facing some security challenges, will vote safely and securely at the Local Government secretariat, protected by security agencies.

Responding to questions on how the commission wanted to address any potential case of misconduct by any ad hoc officer, Mr Amupitan said that the Riot Act had already been read to the participating officers at the Tuesday stakeholders meeting in Awka.

On the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Election, Mr Amupitan reminded political parties participating in the poll that the submission of names of polling agents and observers for the election would end on December 15.

(NAN)