By Emmanuel Nduka
Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has insisted that Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) have not expired.
This was in response to the comments of Bola Tinubu, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Presidential hopeful in the 2023 elections.
Heritage Times recalls that the party chieftain while hosting some of his supporters recently, had claimed that there has been a decline in the number of eligible voters in recent times because PVCs have expired.
Countering his claims, Chief Technical Adviser to the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Bolade Eyinla, said those who have registered for election do not need to do so again because their cards are valid for future elections, and can take part in the ongoing registration.
Prof. Eyinla warned those who have registered against doing so again as said the PVCs issued in recent years remain valid for all elections being conducted.
“This information is not correct. The PVC issued to all previously registered voters remains valid. This kind of statement will certainly push eligible voters to register more than once thereby creating the problem of double and multiple registrations,” he said.
Similarly, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said Nigerians who already have their PVCs do not need to register again.
“In fact, double registration is an offence under our laws. Eligible Nigerians are entitled to register only once. Once a name appears on the National Register of Voters, it stays there permanently.
“One of the very few instances where a name could be removed from the register is if there’s a strong and verifiable proof that the person bearing the name has died,” he warned.
