The Ogun State Government has declared Tuesday and Wednesday as work-free days for workers in the state public service to facilitate the collection of their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). This announcement was made by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kunle Somorin, in a statement issued on Sunday in Abeokuta. The statement noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the PVC collection period until Sunday, January 29, 2023. In light of this, Governor Dapo Abiodun has approved Tuesday, January 24, and Wednesday, January 25, as designated days for public servants to collect their PVCs from their respective local governments.
Additionally, Governor Abiodun urged all executive members of public markets and private establishments in the state to allow flexibility in their schedules. This flexibility will enable residents to take advantage of the opportunity to visit INEC offices or collection centers where they registered to collect their PVCs.
In a similar move, the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, has declared Monday and Tuesday as public holidays to allow residents to collect their PVCs. This directive was communicated in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Chris Ezem, on Saturday. The governor mandated that all public offices and markets should close during this period, encouraging everyone to visit the INEC offices or collection centers for their PVCs. The statement emphasized that market executives must ensure compliance with the closure of their markets, warning that failure to do so could result in appropriate sanctions. However, banks and essential services are exempt from this directive.
Meanwhile, the Association of Anioma Professionals has announced plans to collaborate with town unions in the Delta North Senatorial District to mobilize registered voters to collect their PVCs before the January 31 deadline. The President General of the AAP, Mr. Peter Nkenchor, shared this information during a speech on Sunday in Asaba. He commended INEC for its efforts to minimize the impact of human error in the electoral process through the implementation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and other technology-based tools. Nkenchor noted that a significant factor contributing to low voter turnout is the widespread perception among Nigerians that the electoral system is corrupt and that their votes will not count.
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