Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection was disrupted across some places in Ikpoba/Okha Local Government Area, Edo State on Saturday due to criminal activity.
Benin, the state capital, and its surrounding area, have been experiencing unrest since Friday.
Mr. Timidi Wariowei, Head of Voter Education and Publicity for INEC in Edo, has spoken out against the recent events and the threats made against INEC employees.
He said, “INEC in Edo State has received reports of unruly incidents between January 6 and 7, 2023, which degenerated into the disruption of the collection of PVCs and threat to officials and materials in the following Registration Areas/Wards: Ward 01 at Iwogban/Uteh, Ward 05 at St. Saviour’s School, Ward 07 at Ugbekun, Ward 06 at Maria Goretti College, RA 09 at Obanyator, with Army Children’s
“INEC in Edo State has decided to relocate the collection centers for Wards 1 and 9 to the INEC’s Local Government’s office in Ikpoba/Okha, while the staff previously withdrawn from Wards 5, 6, and 7 are making their way back to their collection centers, to continue with the activity, on the assurances the Electoral Officer (EO) received from the leadership of the Department of State Services (DSS) of their presence in the locations.
As a result of INEC’s communication with Edo Police Command, they are also aware of the situation.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) “wants to remind citizens, especially community leaders, of the need to ensure the safety of INEC officials and materials, as deployed in the various communities to ensure that every voter collects their PVCs and are able to vote in the election.”
Wariowei emphasized that proxies will not be allowed to collect PVCs on behalf of their owners.
Between January 1 and 7, he said 26,095 eligible voters in all three senatorial districts of Edo had collected their PVCs.
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