Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room Urges INEC to Extend PVC Collection Deadline Ahead of Elections

A coalition of over 70 groups, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the deadline for the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the scheduled general elections.

The Situation Room stated that the timelines given for people to collect their PVCs are unrealistic and will lead to disenfranchisement.

The coalition also reported that many PVCs were not available for both new and old registrants, and in some cases, people were asked to return in February.

Additionally, the Situation Room called for INEC to conduct mock elections in some states to familiarize voters with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and to identify possible challenges ahead of the elections.

The coalition also urged the Federal Government to find a lasting solution to the fuel scarcity problem as it could affect the smooth conduct of the elections.