Hoodlums snatch 4,503 PVCs in Akwa Ibom

The Independent National Electoral Commission
has lost 4,503 Permanent Voter Cards to hoodlums
in five local government areas of Akwa Ibom State,
Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Austin
Okojie, has said.
Of the 4,503 PVCs snatched, Abak LGA lost 664;
Ikono, 96; Mkpat Enin, 208; Oruk Anam, 2333; and
Ukanafun, 1202 to hoodlums.
Okojie, who addressed traditional rulers during a
state summit on peaceful conduct of 2015
elections in Uyo on Tuesday, revealed that
1,468,780 permanent voter cards were sent to the
state.
“We had a security issue where a total of 4,503 of
the permanent voter cards were snatched during
the exercise in five local government areas of Akwa
Ibom State,” he said.
Presenting status of the PVC distribution, he stated
that 1,177,910, representing 80% of PVCs have
been distributed, leaving a balance of 284,915 to
be claimed.
Okojie urged the traditional rulers in the state to
ensure free, fair, peaceful and credible elections by
using their positions to appeal to members of their
communities to go for their cards between now
and the next four weeks to enable them exercise
their voting rights during the forthcoming
elections.
The commissioner, however, said that with the
introduction of card readers to authenticate real
owners of each voting card, no snatched card will
be useful during the elections as defaulters would
be screened out of the exercise.