The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reports that a total of 150,988 Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) are still unclaimed in Niger (INEC).
This was disclosed on Sunday in Bida by Yushau Ahmed, the state’s resident electoral commissioner for the north-central region, who was there to pay a courtesy call on Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar.
The visit was a part of continuous initiatives to mobilize registered voters to work toward collecting their PVCs.
The INEC representative informed the traditional leader that the cards were dispersed among the state’s 25 Local Government Areas.
He appealed to traditional and religious leaders to mobilise the affected people to visit the headquarters of their local governments to collect their PVCs adding, however, that no card would be given by proxy.
He said that the visit was to pay homage and seek royal blessings and prayers ahead of the 2023 general election, and promised to conduct credible elections that would be acceptable to all.
He also called for a peaceful electioneering, urging the traditional rulers to emphasise that to political actors.
“Politicians must ensure decorum in their campaigns; they must play the game by the rules.
“Any conduct that will breed violence and thuggery will not be tolerated,” he warned.
Responding, the royal father expressed gratitude for the visit, describing it as timely and symbolic.
He advised INEC to decentralise the collection of the PVCs to polling units level to ease access