24,254 PVCs uncollected in Sokoto – REC

As Nigerians approach the 2023 general election, no fewer than 24,254 permanent voter cards are uncollected in Sokoto State.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Dr Nura Ali, disclosed this while addressing journalists at the Nigerian Union of Journalists Press Centre in Sokoto.

The REC said Nigerians, especially people of the state, should rest assured of a free, fair, credible and acceptable exercise in the forthcoming general election.

Nura who spoke on Saturday at a Congress organised by the Sokoto State chapter of the NUJ also said a total of 241,091 PVCs had been collected in the state.

The REC who was represented by the Commission’s HOD, Voters Education and Publicity, Muhammed Takai, disclosed this.

While noting that unbiased media is very important to having credible elections in every clime, Nura confirmed that INEC was ready for the polls hence they had gotten all the 3991 BVAS machines for the 3,991 polling units in Sokoto.

According to the REC, the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sokoto State branch, has received all the sensitive materials, just as the commission had deployed non-sensitive materials for the general election to the respective local government areas in readiness for the elections.

The REC urged journalists to be factual in their reportage, saying the Commission recruited 16,000 ad-hoc staff in the state for the general election.

“Let people continue to appeal to these people that are engaged to do the right thing for Nigerians. And on our part, INEC is doing its best to have a transparent election and be rest assured that your votes must count,” Dr Nura vowed.

Earlier in his welcome address, the State NUJ chairman, Dalhatu Magori, said the congress would remain another important milestone in the collective struggle of journalists towards ensuring better service delivery for practitioners, the state and the country at large.

Delivering his goodwill message, Abubakar Shekara, a Special Assistant to Governor Amimu Tambuwal, urged journalists to concentrate on what is wrong and not who is to be blamed, as this, according to him, will help in bringing solutions to the endemic systemic challenges confronting Nigeria.