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Only PVCs Will Be Used For Election, INEC Warns

“A particular state governor in the North Central geo-political zone is reported to have assured voters in the state that they could come out to vote on Election Day with Temporary Voter Cards (TVCs) if they do not have the PVC, and that INEC will not be allowed to insist on the use of SCRs for voter accreditation,” the statement said, advising members of the public to disregard such false assurances that contradict the regulations.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed that only voters with genuine Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will be allowed to vote in tomorrow’s governorship and House of Assembly elections throughout Nigeria.

In a statement signed by Kayode Robert Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, the commission stressed that the guidelines issued on the use of its Smart Card Readers (SCRs) for the elections will be strictly applied.

“Any action infringing these guidelines will be an electoral offence, and security agents will be on hand to apprehend offenders,” he warned.

The spokesman noted that the commission had received reports that some political leaders are asking members of the public to disregard those guidelines.

“A particular state governor in the North Central geo-political zone is reported to have assured voters in the state that they could come out to vote on Election Day with Temporary Voter Cards (TVCs) if they do not have the PVC, and that INEC will not be allowed to insist on the use of SCRs for voter accreditation,” the statement said, advising members of the public to disregard such false assurances that contradict the regulations.

Commending Nigerian voters for their peaceful conduct and exemplary resilience despite some challenges during the elections of March 28, INEC expressed regret that that some leaders would seek to misguide the public and thereby prepare ground for needless disruptions to the polling process on April 11.

“INEC hereby warns that any obstruction to the processes it has put in place for the elections by any person, no matter how highly placed, will constitute an electoral offence punishable in law,” it said.

The Commission also announced that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Kogi State, Alhaji Hussaini Halilu Pai, has been reassigned to supervise tomorrow’s elections in Kano State, following the tragic demise of Alhaji Minkala Abdullahi last weekend.

“Before his posting as Kogi REC, Alhaji Pai was the Ekiti State REC, who conducted the Governorship Election of June 21, 2014,” the announcement noted.  “In his absence, the REC for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Professor Jacob Jatau, will supervise the April 11 conduct of State Assembly election in Kogi State.”