19th January, 2022
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, have knocked the APC presidential aspirant, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu over his comment that existing Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) have expired.
Tinubu, in a viral video had said the PVCs in the possession of Nigerians right now have expired and that they needed to get new ones.
“They may not announce to you on time, the PVC that you have now has expired. You need to spread it round in various LGs, wards, let them get new ones,” he said.
Prof. Bolade Eyinla, Chief Technical Adviser to the Chairman of INEC, said the PVCs had not expired and that there was no need for Nigerians who already had PVCs to register for new ones.
He emphasised that the PVCs were still valid, warning that it is a crime for Nigerians to engage in double registration.
“This information is not correct. The PVC issued to all previously registered voters remains valid.
“This kind of statement will certainly push eligible voters to register more than once thereby creating the problem of double and multiple registrations,” he told Daily Trust on Wednesday.
The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, also emphasised that Nigerians who already had PVCs did not need to register for new ones as they ones they had were still valid.
According to Oyekanmi, double registration was an offence under the laws, saying that eligible Nigerians were entitled to register only once.