A ‘ward’ is enough for the wise

On Monday, 12 December 2022, INEC commenced the distribution of PVCs at its local government offices nationwide, and from Friday, 6 January 2023, PVC collection was devolved to the 8,809 wards/registration areas, to end on Sunday, 15 January 2023. Three days to the end of the PVC collection at the ward level, INEC announced an extension at the ward level to Sunday, 22nd January and then PVC collection will revert to the INEC local government offices from Monday, 23 January to Sunday, 29 January 2023.

Nigeria has 774 local government areas (LGAs)/area councils, each administered by a local government council consisting of a chairman, who is the chief executive, and other elected members, who are referred to as councillors. Each LGA is further subdivided into a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20 wards.

On Sunday, 8 January 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the names and locations of the Registration Areas (Wards) for the collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory. The list can be accessed online via the INEC website. This came after civil society organisations made efforts to support the commission with an SMS ward locator service to improve the collection of PVCs by registered citizens at the various wards.

As part of preparations for the 2023 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday, 4 January 2023 also announced in a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC, Festus Okoye, that the commission had received the last consignment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

The statement reads in part: “In furtherance of the preparations for the 2023 General Election, the Commission, yesterday, 3rd January 2023, received the last consignment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation (BVAS) machines with 52 days to the election.
“With the arrival of the last flight in Abuja yesterday, the Commission has now taken delivery of the required number of the BVAS for all the polling units in the country and extra machines in line with our contingency provisions for all critical election materials.”

Despite INEC’s commitment to ensuring a credible process, the commission has remained silent on the number of PVCs that have been collected across the country since 12 December 2022. There has also not been any information on the commission’s readiness for the 2023 General Elections or on the total number of BVAS machines that the commission currently has in its possession.

The process of ensuring a credible election involves ensuring citizens and critical stakeholders are provided with up-to-date and accurate information on the collection of PVCs and the readiness of the BVAS machines.

INEC, a word is enough for the wise!