2nd November, 2018
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Akwa Ibom, said 175,995 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) had yet to be claimed in the state as at Nov. 1.
Mr Mike Igini, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), made the disclosure while speaking to newsmen on the activities of the commission ahead of the 2019 general elections in Uyo on Friday.
He said that the state had received about 1.89 million permanent voter cards from its national headquarters since 2015 and has distributed 1.72 million.
The REC appealed to those who had yet to collect their PVCs to go to INEC office in the local government areas to claim them.
He urged political stakeholders, candidates in the forthcoming general elections and their supporters to conduct campaigns devoid of violence and hate speeches.
“We urge the media to appeal to politicians, stakeholders and candidates to work for free, fair, credible and violence-free elections.
“Campaign messages should be devoid of rhetoric of violence and hate speeches. Campaign messages should encapsulate message of hope and peace,” Igini said.
The REC reminded Akwa Ibom people, especially politicians that the display of voters’ register in all the 2,980 polling units would begin next week.
According to him, the exercise is intended to clean up the register before final presentation in January 2019.
He said that in 2019 general elections Akwa Ibom peoples’ votes would count.
Igini said that INEC had put enough preparation on ground as unbiased umpire to conduct free, fair and credible elections.
He also urged the media, especially electronics, to provide equal opportunity to all political parties and their candidates during campaigns.