Owerri-North protest against alleged non-issuance of PVCs

SCORES of the electorate in 12 political wards of Owerri North Local Council of Imo State on Monday stormed the gates of the Imo State Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Port Harcourt Road, Owerri, the capital of Imo State, protesting what they called non – issuance of the Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) to the registered voters of the area.

  Led by a community leader from Emekuku Ward 1, Osita Megwa, they said that more than 77,000 registered voters who were issued with temporary voter’s cards had not seen any INEC staff in any of the wards to issue PVCs since the distribution began last year. They expressed fears that if the trend continues, they may likely be disenfranchised. 

  The Guardian gathered that it was the second time such protests from the same council would take place within a month.

    Some of the placards and songs they chanted were: “We shall not agree until our PVCs are given to us.” “No PVCs no elections in Owerri North.”

  Responding, the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. George Ada, appealed for calm, promising that they would receive their PVCs in the remaining 10 wards within two weeks based on the assurances from the national headquarters of the commission.

  He noted that the commission was committed to organising free, fair and credible polls in March 28 and April 11.