Anambra 2021: Observers Express Worry Over INEC Late Distribution Of New PVC

Barely 24 hours to November 6, 2021, Anambra governorship election, an Independent election observer of Nigeria civil society situation room, Ene Obi, has tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to urgently deploy its staff to all the designated centres to enable the newly registered voters to get their Permanent Voters Card (PVC), before the commencement of voting on Saturday morning.

The group noted that, if urgent attention is not given between now and 8 am on Saturday morning, it will disfranchise thousands of voters.

Addressing newsmen in Awka, on Friday, the convener of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Ene Obi, said the call came, following the information the group gathered from people who are willing and ready to exercise their right across the 21 local government areas.

According to her, despite the prevailing challenges, we commend the people of Anambra for their commitment to the democratic process in the State. We note the efforts of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the election. We also acknowledge the efforts of the security agencies to maintain law and order.

Situation Room is counting on the assurances of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigeria Police Force that they are fully prepared for the election, with INEC assuring that logistics and deployment are fully under its control and the Police assuring that it will keep the security situation under check. Situation Room will work with her over 70 partners and networks to observe the election and receive reports from across the 21 local government areas of the State.

She however, explains that the early activities embarked by INEC on the expansion of voter access to polling units, under which new polling units were created, as well as the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise were stalled by sit-at-home orders in the South East and pockets of violence in Anambra State.

She urges registered voters to take advantage of the public holiday in the State today, to go out en masse and collect their PVCs.

Meanwhile, the Yiaga Africa Watching the Vote (WTV) has so far released four reports on the Anambra 2021 pre-election environment.

Speaking to Journalists in Awka, the Executive Director, Yiaga Africa Watching the Vote (WTV), Ezenwa Nwagwu, said the findings from its observation periods reveal an upward trend in the preparatory activities by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and a shift in the level of voter education and information campaigns.
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