Onitsha Residents Decry Inefficiencies In PVC Distribution

   Voters in Onitsha, Anambra State said the Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) distribution in the area was becoming worrisome as many were yet to collect their cards.

Others said they could not  get theirs due to the distance of the designated centres  from their places of residence.

A visit to three collection centres in Onitsha by Channels Television revealed the disenchantment of the people as a result of the manner in which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the State was handling the distribution.

Expressing worry on the matter, the member representing Onitsha North Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Mr. Chugbo Enwezor, urged INEC to assist in resisting the impending voter apathy by embarking on sensitisation of the people on the need for them to collect their cards.

At Ward Five, Anyaegbunam centre in Inland Town Onitsha, many were yet to collect their cards as voters came in trickles to pick up their permanent voter cards, evidenced by piles of cards which were seen on the table.

One of the voters in the State, Chinenye Nnacheta, lamented her inability to collect her card which meant she would not be able to vote for her preferred candidates in the forthcoming election.

At another collection centre in Odoakpu Onitsha, few voters were also seen undergoing the process of collecting their cards but a Councillor in charge of the area complained of the distance of the collection centres to the places of residence, of the people which had led to so many of them not bothering to go and collect their PVCs.

Also expressing worry over the impending voter apathy that would be experienced in the forthcoming election if nothing is done to reverse the situation, the member representing Onitsha North State Constituency, Mr Chugbo Enwezo, urged INEC to not only relocate the collection centres to be near the wards but also start sensitizing the people.

At the last collection centre inside Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha, heap of cards which were yet to be collected, was seen on the table, thus creating fear of apathy.

According to the Public Relations Officer of INEC in the State, Mr. Frank Egbo in a telephone conversation, he said that INEC in the State had achieved 79 per cent PVC distribution in the State and would commence with sensitization of voters on the workings of the card reader next week."