INEC said both the PVCs and CVR are crucial to the success of the 2015 general election because a voters' register which possesses requisite integrity, is a foundation for credible elections.
The distribution of the PVCs and CVR commencing from August 15 is expected to begin in the following states of Yobe, Bauchi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kwara, Anambra, Ebonyi, Ondo, Oyo, Delta and Cross River as well as the Federal Capital Territory.
According to INEC’s bulletin, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, disclosed this over the weekend in a two-day workshop for Heads of Voter Education and Publicity and the Electoral Officers (EO) from the eleven states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where the distribution of PVCs will kick off on August 15, 2015.
The INEC Chairman who was represented by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Cross River state, Barrister Mike Igini, charged the participants to be diligent in order to ensure that the outcome of the two exercises achieved the Commission’s long term objective of using the Permanent Voters' Cards (PVC) in the 2015 general election.
The INEC Chairman challenged the participants who would conduct the second phase of the PVC and the CVR to surpass the acheivement of the first phase. He warned that the collection of the PVC would not be by proxy as all voters are expected to physically collect their voters’ cards.
According to the INEC Bulletin, the Chairman of Information and Publicity Committee, Dr. Chris O. Iyimoga, told the participants that the success of the PVC and CVR exercises would impact profoundly and positively on the 2015 general election.
Iyimoga who was represented by the Director, Voter Education and Publicity, Barrister Oluwole Osaze Uzzi, said that the success of the two exercises would however depend on how the participants imbibe the lessons taught at the workshop.
He commended the Development Partners and Resident Electoral Commissioner in Cross River State, for hosting the participants.
In his goodwill message, the envoy from the United Nations Industrial Development Programme (UNDP), Prof. Bolade Eyinla, who represented the Director, Dr. Mourtada Deme, said the credibility of voters' registration which guaranteed the right to vote in elections was an important component of the democratic process in any country.
He noted that Electoral Officers were charged with the onerous responsibility of taking custody of the voters register for their respective states and local governments as well as ensuring the efficient and orderly distribution and competent handling of all questions concerning the distribution of the Permanent Voters' Cards at the registration areas and polling units.
Eyinla argued that in handling these responsibilities, it was important that the participants got proper enlightenment on the mechanism and modalities for distributing the PVC and for conducting the CVR in areas under their supervision.
He said the overall goals of the workshop were to enable INEC headquarters staff acquaint the participants with the modalities and procedures for the purpose of the PCV distribution, formalise participants with the ICT process and procedures for the conduct of CVR and equip them with necessary skills to carry out their responsibilities in a seamless manner.
Meanwhile, INEC has assured all political parties of a level playing field in elections.
The assurance was given by the Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, represented by the acting Chairman, Dr. Ishmael Igbani, while receiving a delegation led by the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Mr. Kamalesh Sharma, at the INEC headquarters last week.
Responding to a call made by the Kamalesh on the need for the Commission’s leadership to provide a level playing field for all political parties in the 2015 elections, the INEC Chairman outlined steps taken by the Commission in a bid to organise the best elections the country has witnessed.
He said the current leadership of the Commission is committed to improving the electoral process more than previous administrations did, by providing a level playing field for all political parties.
Affirming the huge steps so far taken to ensure that INEC officials at all levels remained “non-partisan”, he stressed that the Commission had also instituted innovative processes to ensure peaceful conduct of elections in a violent-free environment through partnerships with critical stakeholders and continuous engagement with political parties to ensure that the electoral body and stakeholders are on the same page.
The INEC Chairman further gave the assurance of INEC’s resolve to conduct its activities within the confines of the Electoral Act and ensure that the political process is strengthened.
Earlier in his remarks, the Secretary General of Commonwealth, Mr. Kamalesh Sharma, who said the purpose of their visit was to “set the ball rolling in respect of the next elections,” underscored the importance of transparency and a level playing field for all political parties. He said “elections should not be postponed without just and credible reasons which are transparent and it should not be postponed due to political convenience.”
The Secretary General advocated the creation of peer groups by the Commission, which he said would aid in the continual strengthening of the electoral system in the country.
Kamalesh pledged the support of the Commonwealth in helping to ensure credible elections in Nigeria.
