The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says 37,832 of 60,370 newly printed Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for new registrants still need to be collected in Lagos State six months after release.

INEC’s spokesperson in Lagos, Adenike Oriowo, told journalists on Monday that many old PVCs were still awaiting their owners to collect them at the 20 local government area offices of INEC in the state.

“Total uncollected new PVCs as at October 21, was 37,832,” Ms Oriowo said.

Ms Oriowo, who expressed dissatisfaction with the poor turnout of many electorates on PVC collection, urged them not to wait until the last minute before the 2023 general elections.

She said the statistics as of October 21 showed that INEC in Lagos state had received 6,570,291 PVCs from the commission’s national headquarters before the 2019 general elections.

“Old PVCs collected up till October 21 was 5,644,239 while the total uncollected old PVCs at the same time was 926,052.

“The new PVCs received from INEC headquarters earlier this year were 60,370, while only 22,538 were collected as of October 21.”

She said the total PVCs received from the INEC national headquarters was 6,630,661.

While the overall total PVCs collected by their owners as of October 21 was 5,666,777, the overall uncollected was 963,884.

INEC had fixed February 25, 2023, for presidential and national assembly elections, while March 11, 2023, was scheduled for governorship and state assembly elections. 

(NAN)