We’re securing jail terms for PVC thieves — INEC

A magistrate court in Sokoto has sentenced one Nasiru Idris to one-year imprisonment over illegal possession of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said on Sunday in a statement that the suspect was nabbed with 101 PVCs belonging to different people.

He said the offence contravened sections 117 and 145 of the Electoral Act 2002.

“In the last couple of weeks, the Nigeria Police had arrested some individuals found to be in illegal possession of voters’ cards in some states of the federation.

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“In one case, the police has concluded investigation and handed over the case file to the commission resulting in the successful prosecution of one Nasiru Idris at a magistrate court in Sokoto who was found to be in possession 101 PVCs in contravention of sections 117 and 145 of the Electoral Act 2002. He has been sentenced to a year in prison.

“Similarly, the police in Kano State have arrested a man who was found to be in possession of 367 PVCs. The suspect has been charged to court and the commission is pursuing his prosecution,” Okoye said.

He assured that the commission would continue to pursue all violators of the electoral act and ensure their diligent prosecution.

Giving an update on PVC collection, Okoye said a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been developed.

He said this would be among the issues to be discussed and finalised at a retreat in Lagos from November 28th to December 2nd, 2022 involving all the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He said, “At the end of the retreat, the commission will release the dates as well as the detailed procedure for the immediate collection of PVCs nationwide.