NIGERIA: Concerns have emerged over the accessibility of Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection in parts of Lagos and Enugu states, following reports from residents who alleged that collection centres were empty or that the exercise was not taking place as expected.
In Surulere, Lagos State, Dr Folasaye, in a post on X, raised concerns over the situation at the designated PVC collection centre at Rabiatu Thompson Crescent Primary School, Shitta/Ogunlana Drive.
According to her, the centre was empty when she visited, while officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reportedly told her that PVCs for voters who had requested replacements for lost or damaged cards, transfers, or completed new registrations in the current year were not yet available.
She said the officials explained that the cards had not been received from INEC headquarters in Abuja, adding that only PVCs relating to new registrations completed in the previous year were available for collection.
Dr Folasaye questioned the explanation, arguing that the registration and collection process had been ongoing for more than a year and that voters should not be left unable to obtain their cards because of administrative delays.
“A voter card is not just a card, the life of Nigerians depend on it,” she wrote, urging residents who registered in the previous year to visit designated centres to collect their PVCs.
She also called for greater accountability, using the hashtag #LostDamagedTransferPVCMustBeCollected, and stressed that votes could only count when eligible voters collected their cards.
Similar concerns were raised in Enugu State, where a woman, in a post shared on X, said she visited an INEC office in the state but found that PVC collection was not taking place.
According to her account, the situation was not limited to the state office, as she alleged that collection was also not ongoing at the ward level.
“How do you expect citizens to participate when INEC isn’t making the process accessible?” she asked, calling on the electoral commission to take the matter seriously.
The accounts from both states have raised questions about the readiness of collection centres to serve eligible voters and whether administrative arrangements are sufficient to ensure that citizens can obtain their PVCs without unnecessary difficulties.
The concerns are particularly significant for voters who have registered, transferred their registration or applied for replacement cards but are still waiting to collect their PVCs. Delays in making these cards available could create uncertainty for citizens seeking to exercise their voting rights.
INEC has yet to respond to the specific allegations contained in the accounts cited in this report. The circumstances described by the individuals have not been independently verified by The Credibility News.
The electoral commission’s clarification would help establish the status of outstanding PVCs, explain the reported delays and indicate when affected voters can expect to collect their cards.
As Nigeria prepares for future electoral activities, the reports underscore the importance of transparent communication, accessible collection centres and timely distribution of voter cards.
For eligible voters, registration alone is not the end of the process. Ensuring that PVCs are available for collection—and that citizens know where and when to obtain them—remains essential to effective electoral participation.
