Imo INEC REC asks Eos to send unclaimed PVCs to monarchs

Disturbed by the number of unclaimed Permanent Voters Card (PVCs), numbering over 370,000 in various 27 Local Councils in Imo State, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in the state, Prof. Francis Chukwuemeka Ezeonu, has directed the various Electoral Officers in charge of the commission in the various councils to send the list of owners of the PVCs to the monarchs of the about 644 autonomous communities in the state with the view of sorting the owners and appealing to them to collect them.

Ezeonu gave the directive yesterday during his visit at the Ohaji/Egbema Local Council headquarters, Mmahu, and some councils at a pre-electoral sensitization programme by the commission.

The Deputy Chief of Staff, Kingsley Uju, monarchs, community heads and leaders amongst others were at the event. According to Ezeonu, he was disturbed that there were over 19,139 unclaimed PVCs in the council, regretting that only 119 cards were claimed. He promised that the commission would organise credible polls in the 305 electoral wards in the state, warning against double registration. Ezeonu, said he has put in motion mechanisms to register registrable prospective voters, warning that only those with their cards would be allowed to cast their votes.

The electoral chief disclosed that corps members who will work at various communities for the commission would sleep a night before elections in their communities of assigned duty, urging the monarchs and their hosts to protect them.