'INEC distributes 80% PVC in Yobe'

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Tuesday said it had recorded 80 per cent distribution of the Permanent Voter Card in Yobe State.

The Public Relations Officer of the commission in the state, Bagudu Nma, told journalists that so far 80 per cent of registered voters had collected their voter cards, noting that centres were opened for collection across the 17 local government areas of the state.

Bagudu said two camps had been open for Internally Displaced Persons in the two affected local government areas of Gujba and Gulani.



He said Gujba voters would cast their votes in Damaturu, the state capital, while Gulani would exercise their franchise in Fika.

In tour of some centres distributing the PVC in Damaturu, our correspondent observed that registered voters queued in their numbers to collect their permanent voter cards.

Some of them complained that the commission was grossly understaffed, which made the whole process very slow.
They called on INEC to employment of more staff if the deadline of February 8, set for the collection of the voter card must be met.

In a related development, trainings for electoral supervisors and officers have commenced across the state.

A visit to the venue of the training in Damaturu showed that participants were taught electoral procedures relating to modern trends.

Meanwhile, a day voter awareness campaign on voter education has been organised in the state.

Mallam Hassan Garba, who is a resource person at the training, said the turnout had been impressive, stressing that the participants would be equipped with the required knowledge of electoral innovations.

A participant at the training, Mallam Salisu Garba, who spoke to our correspondent, said the exercise would avail them the opportunity to know more about innovations concerning the card reader, which is expected to tackle multiple voting, which had been recorded in the past.