According to an update on the breakdown of PVCs collected so far by the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Kayode Idowu, a total of 55,904,272 million or 81.22 per cent has been distributed out of 68,833476 million PVCs produced.
Recall that the electoral commission had last Sunday extended the deadline for the collection of PVCs by registered voters by two weeks to Sunday, March 22, which is six days to the election.
By this latest data, about 414,241 PVCs were collected between Wednesday when the last data was released and yesterday.
Last Wednesday, INEC disclosed that 55,490,031 of eligible voters have collected Permanent Voter Card (PVC) at a rate of 80.61 percent.
However, according to the latest data, Zamfara State still retained the lead with a total of 1,435,452 or 95.97 per cent PVCs distributed. Jigawa State comes in second position with 1,756,320 or 95.91 percent PVC distribution rate.
Inspite of complains by its governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosu, last Thursday, Ogun State still trails other states in collection of PVCs with only 904,647 or 49.45 per cent out of its 1,829,534 registered voters.
As at February 27, a total of 14,505,729 Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) were yet to be distributed.
By that date, a total of 54,327,747, had been collected so far at a rate of 78.93 percent.
As at February 17, that 52,275,367 PVCS were distributed at 75.94 percent. However, the data shows a difference of 2,052,380 (3.01 percent) between February 17 till date.
Nevertheless, the debate over whether or not PVCS should be used as well as allegations of partisanship against the commission has continued to reverberate in the polity.
Unperturbed by the agitations, the INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, last week met with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and political parties to review preparations for the elections with regards to the PVC distribution and card reader functionality ahead of the polls.
Jega, had at the meeting with the RECs assured that the commission will meet the aspiration of Nigerians for credible elections.
He said the meeting would review outstanding matters relating to the distribution of PVC and the mock demonstration of card reader.
The INEC chairman assured that “our best will be good enough in terms of meeting the aspirations of Nigerians for free, fair elections.”
But, just as Jega met RECs, some youths, under the aegis of Middle Belt Concerned Youths, staged a protest at the headquarters of INEC in Abuja, against the use of Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) and the Card Readers for the elections.
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