PVCs don’t expire, INEC responds to Tinubu

Former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, a 2023 presidential aspirant, had in a trending video said: “In case they do not announce to you on time, the PVC you have has expired.”

In response to the video, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned Nigerians to dismiss assertions made by Ahmed Bola Tinubu, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) have an expiry date.

Chief Technical Adviser to the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Bolade Eyinla, affirmed yesterday in Abuja, that the PVCs issued in recent years remain valid for all elections conducted by INEC. He also urged Nigerians not to attempt re-registration, if they already have PVCs.

“This information is not correct. The PVCs issued to all previously registered voters remain valid. This kind of statement will certainly push eligible voters to register more than once, thereby creating the problem of double and multiple registrations,” he said.

Also, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said: “In fact, double registration is an offence under our laws. Eligible Nigerians are entitled to register only once. Once a name appears on the National Register of Voters, it stays there permanently.

“One of the very few instances where a name could be removed from the register is if there’s a strong and verifiable proof that the person bearing the name has died.”

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, also announced yesterday, that the commission is undertaking a comprehensive cleaning up of the voter register to remove underage persons, who may attempt to vote during the 2023 elections.