A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, in a viral video, claimed that the current Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expired.
The APC chieftain made the claim while addressing the women leaders of the party who paid him a visit in Abuja.
He urged them to obtain new PVCs.
“In case they do not announce to you on time, the PVC you have has expired.
“Take one family member, two family members, knock on all doors and make sure that the new registration… Because they may not announce to you on time. The PVCs you have, has expired. Yes!” he said.
What is PVC?
A Permanent Voters Card (PVC) is a smart electronic card that stores information such as biometric data (physical attributes and thumbprint) and is needed for voting during elections in Nigeria.
The PVCs are electronically programmed and can only be read or assessed with a card reader.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PVC enables registered voters to exercise their civic right to vote in the General Elections.
A Temporary Voter’s Card is given to people upon registration. This, the registrant will present to collect the PVC.
AÂ look at the PVC shows that it has no expiry date. It instead contains information of a voter like; polling unit, voters identification number, passport, local government area, gender, date of birth, occupation and address of the voter.
PVC doesn’t expire ―INEC
In reaction to the claim, the Chief Technical Adviser to the Chairman of INEC, Prof Bolade Eyinla, stated that PVCs previously registered remain valid.
“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.”
Eyinla urged those who already have PVCs not to bother about registering for another one.
The INEC Spokesperson Festus Okoye also faulted the claim, saying the PVCs issued to Nigerians by the commission were still valid.
Tinubu admits claim is misleading
Meanwhile, Tinubu’s media team has admitted that his claim was misleading.
The team, in a statement, stated that the APC chieftain mistakenly used the word ‘expire’ instead of saying that the PVCs may have to be updated.
“On Tuesday night in Abuja, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu granted audience to a delegation of women from Lagos and across the country attending the All Progressives Congress Women Conference. While charging the women to check the status of their voting cards and mobilise supporters to vote, he mistakenly used the word ‘expire’ instead of stating that the cards may have to be updated.
“Immediately upon being apprised of this, Asiwaju apologised for the incorrect statement and felt sorry for any confusion it may have caused. Asiwaju Tinubu also stressed that he appreciates the patriotic and necessary work of INEC and its personnel in assuring a free and fair electoral process for all Nigerians in all political parties,” the statement read in part.
, Bola Tinubu, in a viral video, claimed that the current Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expired.){kind=link}