INEC Allays Fear On Alleged Theft Of PVCs By Politicians In Borno

JEGA-INECThe Independent National Electoral Commission has said the alleged mass theft of Permanent Voter Cards by politicians in Borno will not affect the conduct of next month’s general elections.

The Peoples’ Democratic Party and All Progressives Congress are accusing each other of perpetrating the alleged theft of the PVCs.

Borno INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Tukur Sa’ad, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Maiduguri, that the alleged theft would add no advantage to the perpetrators.

According to him, stealing or hijacking PVCs will not give added advantage to any political party during the election.

“Well, I have not heard of the information on the alleged stealing or hijacking of PVCs by politicians in Borno, but if that is true, it is an exercise in futility”, he said.

Sa’ad added: “Stealing or hijacking PVCs will not make impact at the polls because no individual can use another person’s PVC on the election date.

“INEC is going to place card reading machines at every Polling Unit, the machine must recognise a voter before being issued with a ballot paper”.

He said that the finger print of every voter must tally with that of the PVC before being allowed to vote.

“All those buying PVCs or hijacking them are just wasting their time.

“As far as INEC is concern, there is no chance for them on Election Day”, Sa’ad said.

He advised individuals whose PVCs were missing to exercise patience or take part in the Continuos Voter Registration to get captured for the polls.

Sa’ad admitted that some polling units in the state were not presented with PVCs due to technical hitch.