The Imo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Barr. Chukwuemeka Christopher Ibeziako, has appealed to Imo based journalists to assist the Commission in enlightening voters on the importance of collecting their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from the various INEC offices in the state, with a view to getting ready for the 2027 general elections.
Ibeziako made this appeal recently in Owerri, while interacting with journalists after a meeting organized by the commission with stakeholders and political parties with a view to ensuring peaceful, fair and transparent elections.
He stated that with the help of journalists in the enlightenment process, the issue of voters failing to collect their PVCs would come to an end. Ibeziako who once served as an INEC Commissioner in Abia State, unfolded his previous experiences there, where people were unwillng to collect their cards, considering the financial implication of running to and fro various INEC offices in the LGAs for that purpose.
“I appeal to the media to embark on public enlightenment with the political parties and all stakeholders represented, while the Commission will employ its Voter Education and Publicity Department to enlighten the people on the need and essence of collecting PVC because that is the license to vote”.
According to him, if anybody’s name is on the voters’ register without that person’s PVC, such a person is not eligible to vote.
Ibeziako asserted that he was impressed with the turn out of political parties, physically challenged persons, traditional rulers, government Inter-agency consultative committee of the electoral management and the media at the stakeholders meeting, attributing the presence of the media as a tool that will drive the information into the fabrics of the society.
