Not few than 72 million Nigerians have been cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to vote in Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.
According to INEC, they represent 86.63 per cent of the 84 million registered would-be voters who collected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu said yesterday at his daily news briefing.
He said that 72,775,502 million of the 84,004,084 registered voters collected PVCs before the commission withdrew all the 11,228,582 uncollected last week Monday.
The withdrawn PVCs will be kept until after the elections on March 9. Only PVC holders will be allowed to vote.
Briefing reporters and observers, Prof. Yakubu dispelled rumour of resignation as INEC boss.
“I see no reason why I should resign,” he stressed.
On INEC’s preparation for the polls, Yakubu said 19 states had fully deployed electoral materials to local government areas.
The remaining states, except Bayelsa, were expected to complete the process yesterday. The process will be concluded today in Bayelsa.
On PVC’s collection, Yakubu noted: “The last date for the collection of PVCs was Monday, 11th February, 2019. Out of 84,004,084 registered voters, the total number of PVCs collected stands at 72,775,502, which represents 86.63 per cent of the total PVCs collected.”
The breakdown and percentages of collection on state by state basis shows Katsina leading other states with 98 per cent PVCs collection rate; Taraba trailing with 97 per cent; Kebbi (95 per cent) and Zamfara 94 per cent). Yobe State recorded 92 per cent collection.
Yakubu said: “We are fully on course. There is no state that has not commenced the deployment to LGAs. In fact, 19 states have fully deployed. By the end of the day, all states and FCT would have deployed, except Bayelsa State which is moving direct from our State office in Yenagoa to the RACs tomorrow.
“Tomorrow, activities at ward level will commence with the activation of the Registration Area Centres (RACs) at 9.00am while the movement of personnel and materials will commence at mid-day. This is the last staging post before deployment to 119,973 polling units leading to the opening of polls at 8.00am on Saturday (tomorrow).
“I want to assure the nation that going by our revised timetable and schedule of activities, this deployment will be concluded today. We are fully prepared for the elections.
“There is no state that has not commenced the deployment of electoral materials to the local government areas. In fact, 19 states have fully deployed.
“By the end of the day, all the states and FCT would have deployed, except Bayelsa State which is moving direct from our state office in Yenagoa to the Registration Area Centres tomorrow.”
He also announced that a visa arrangement was on for foreign observers who were affected by the postponement of the elections.
