The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish a nationwide timetable for the production, distribution and collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
The party in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, warned that no Nigerian who has successfully registered should be disenfranchised due administrative delays.
“With the general election approaching, Nigerians should not be left wondering whether their cards will arrive in time. This is not a logistical footnote. It goes to the heart of the credibility of the election itself,” ADC stated.
It called on the commission to publish, state by state, the number of newly registered voters, PVCs produced, cards distributed, outstanding cards and designated collection centres.
“You cannot register Nigerians to vote and then make them run from office to office searching for the card that enables them to exercise that right. Registration without access to a PVC is disenfranchisement by another route,” the ADC said.
The party also wants public information campaigns and decentralise collection centers wherever practicable, to ensure that distance, bureaucracy and poor communication do not become barriers to participation.
“We do not want an election-eve scramble, excuses or emergency promises.
“INEC has the opportunity to resolve this matter now, transparently and comprehensively.
“Every PVC that remains unnecessarily unavailable represents a citizen whose constitutional voice is at risk of being silenced. That must not be allowed to happen,” ADC advised.
It promised to mobilise its structures nationwide to monitor PVC distribution and document complaints from registered voters unable to obtain their cards.
