INEC clears 72.7m to vote, I won’t resign, says Yakubu | Nairalaw

MORE than 24 million Nigerians have been cleared by the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to vote in
tomorrow’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

They represent 86.63 per cent of the 84 million registered
would-be voters who collected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), INEC
Chairman Mahmood Yakubu said yesterday at his daily news
briefing.

Besides, the INEC boss said he was not contemplating resigning
from office.

He said that 72,775,502 million of the 84,004,084 registered
voters collected PVCs before the commission withdrew all the
11,228,582 uncollected last week Monday.

The withdrawn PVCs will be kept until after the elections on
March 9. Only PVC holders will be allowed to vote.

Briefing reporters and observers, Prof. Yakubu said he had never
contemplated resigning his job.

“I see no reason why I should resign,” he stressed.

On INEC’s preparation for the polls, Yakubu said 19 states had
fully deployed electoral materials to local government areas.

The remaining states, except Bayelsa, were expected to complete
the process yesterday. The process will be concluded today in
Bayelsa.

On PVC’s collection, Yakubu noted: “The last date for the
collection of PVCs was Monday, 11th February, 2019. Out of
84,004,084 registered voters, the total number of PVCs collected
stands at 72,775,502, which represents 86.63 per cent of the total
PVCs collected.”

The breakdown and percentages of collection on state by state
basis shows Katsina leading other states with 98 per cent PVCs
collection rate; Taraba trailing with 97 per cent; Kebbi (95 per
cent) and Zamfara 94 per cent). Yobe State recorded 92 per cent
collection.

Lagos has the highest number of uncollected PVCs with 1.038
million.

According to INEC’s breakdown of the number of registered voters
and collected PVCs, Katsina with 3,230,230 registered would-be
voters, 3,187,988 collected PVCs, which is 98 per cent. Taraba
states follows closely with 1,777,105, with collection of
1,729,094, which is 97 per cent of total registered voters.

Kebbi and Gombe states have 95 per cent collection rate each.
Kebbi with 1,806,231 registered voters has 1,718,180 collected PVCs
and Gombe with a population of 1,394,393 voters has 1,335,223
collected PVCs.

Zamfara and Bauchi have 94 per cent collection rate. Zamfara
with registered population of 1,717,128, has 1,626,839 PVCs
collected. Bauchi with registered population of 2, 462,843, has
2,335,717 PVCs.

Kaduna registered 3,932,492 would-be voters; 3,648,831,
representing 92 per cent, collected PVCs.

Akwa Ibom and Enugu recorded 91 per cent collection rate. Akwa
Ibom with 2,119,727 registered voters has 1,933,362 PVCs collected.
In Enugu, of the 1,944,016 registered voters, only 1,787,537 picked
up their PVCs.

Adamawa, Sokoto, Niger and Cross River recorded 90 per cent
collection rate.

Abia and Nasarawa states recorded 89 per cent collection rate;
Ebonyi and Rivers recorded 88 per cent collection. Kogi has 87 per
cent collection rate. Delta, Borno and Kano states have 86 per cent
collection rate.

Plateau, Lagos and Anambra recorded 84 per cent collection rate;
Bayelsa recorded 83 per cent; Kwara (81 per cent); Edo 78 per cent
and Jigawa (77 per cent).

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has 76 per cent collection
rate. Oyo and Imo have 74 per cent.

Yakubu said the remaining 11,228,582 million had been deposited
at Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) offices.

Of the uncollected PVCs, the recent registration accounted for
3,410,677 million. More than 14 million voters were captured in the
exercise.

On the fate of Rivers and Zamfara states APC, Yakubu reiterated
INEC’s plan to obey court orders.

He foreclosed another postponement of the rescheduled
elections.

Yakubu said: “We are fully on course. There is no state that has
not commenced the deployment to LGAs. In fact, 19 states have fully
deployed. By the end of the day, all states and FCT would have
deployed, except Bayelsa State which is moving direct from our
State office in Yenagoa to the RACs tomorrow.

“Tomorrow, activities at ward level will commence with the
activation of the Registration Area Centres (RACs) at 9.00am while
the movement of personnel and materials will commence at mid-day.
This is the last staging post before deployment to 119,973 polling
units leading to the opening of polls at 8.00am on Saturday
(tomorrow).

“I want to assure the nation that going by our revised timetable
and schedule of activities, this deployment will be concluded
today. We are fully prepared for the elections.

“There is no state that has not commenced the deployment of
electoral materials to the local government areas. In fact, 19
states have fully deployed.

“By the end of the day, all the states and FCT would have
deployed, except Bayelsa State which is moving direct from our
state office in Yenagoa to the Registration Area Centres
tomorrow.”

He also announced that a visa arrangement was on for foreign
observers who were affected by the postponement of the
elections.