Fresh information has emerged that data collection from 17 states across the federation reveals that about 6.7 million permanent voter cards (PVCs) are yet to be collected ahead of the general election.
Naija News reports that data obtained from Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday revealed the huge figure of uncollected PVCs even as elections are barely two months away.
According to Punch, data from INEC revealed that 6.7 million PVCs are seating in the commission’s offices across 17 states including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
It was learnt that in the FCT, 460,643 PVCs were yet to be collected as of December 24, 2022, while in Edo State, 661,783 voter cards have also not been collected as of December 29, 2022, and in Ondo and Ekiti States, 300,000 and 205,127 PVCs respectively were yet to be claimed by their owners as of December 15, 2022. 
Data from an INEC document tagged ‘INEC Lagos PVCs Reports’also revealed that a total of 1,693,963 PVCs remained uncollected at the commission’s Lagos branch as of December 29, 2022.
The document showed that “Old PVCs received from headquarters – 6,570,291, old PVCs collected up till December 29, 2022 – 5,653,330. Total uncollected old PVCs – 916,961, New PVCs received from headquarters – 940,200, New PVCs collected as at December 29, 2022 – 163,198.
“Total uncollected New PVCs –777,022; Overall total PVCs received from headquarters- 7,510,491, Overall PVCs collected as at December 29, 2022 -5,816,528; Overall PVCs uncollected 1,693,963.’’
Meanwhile, Naija News understands that the INEC Director of Voter Education in Lagos State, Adenike Tadeshe, told Punch that about 14,000 people collect their voter cards daily, noting that the commission would soon take the PVCs distribution to the wards.
Tadeshe pointed out that “I will not say we have a huge number of uncollected PVCs. Looking at the figures, as of December 29, 2022, we have given out 5,816,528 PVCs, so we are now left with 1,693,963 we want to put in record that on a daily basis in Lagos State, we give out about 14,000 PVCs so the number will keep reducing.
‘’Now, by January 15 and 16, we will be taking the cards to all the 245 wards in Lagos State and from there to the local government areas, so this will bring the cards closer to the people for collection.”
In Osun State, Naija News gathered that 437,454 PVCs were yet to be collected also as of November last year, while in Plateau, 49,000 cards await collection by their owners too.
As of December 20, 2022, 231, 900 people in Gombe State haven’t also picked their PVCs and in Anambra, no fewer than 132,623 PVCs remained uncollected as of December 8, 2022.
Data from Niger State disclosed that as of November 27, 2022, 150,988 PVCs have not been uncollected while the Adamawa State INEC office revealed that it had over 200,000 PVCs lying idle as of November 18, 2022.
The INEC Head of Voter Education in Cross River, Tonia Nwobi submitted that 409,604 PVCs were still in the custody of the commission as of December 16.
It was learnt that in Kwara and Oyo and Ogun State, 120,602, 700,000 and 400,000 cards respectively remained uncollected, while in states like Borno, Kogi and Imo, 80,117, 160,966 and 300,000 PVCs are yet to be claimed respectively.
Naija News however recalls that the electoral umpire earlier announced that collection of PVCs commenced on December 12, 2022, and would end on January 22.
The commission’s National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye was reported to have said between January 6 -15,2023 the collection of the PVCs will be devolved to the ward level after which collection would be moved to the local government areas.
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