The Chairman, Akwa Ibom Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC), Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, has said the permanent voters card (PVC) will serve as a valid form of identity for artisans and petty traders aside voting during elections.
Speaking yesterday in Eket Local Government Area during a stakeholders sensitization programme on the continuous voters’ registration and PVCs collection, Ikoiwak said the law establishing AKISIEC empowered it to collaborate with INEC on issues of voters’ registration to achieve credible elections.
He said the PVC was very important to economic life, especially for those who could not afford to own international passport, driver’s license and national identity card.
He explained that the PVC was acceptable to the banking sector in Nigeria as a means of business transaction as it had no expiration date and does not cost money unlike other valid identity instruments.
“We have four valid instruments in Nigeria, the international passport, driver’s license, national ID card and the voters card, so for our economic interest, we need the PVC.
“For the politicians, the PVC will be a serious instrument in 2019 elections. In 2019, the card reader will be the only instrument for accreditation and it will only read the PVC.
“The 2019 elections will be a different ball game; your vote will count and you will use the PVC. Those who just turn 18, those who never registered before, those who wish to transfer or replace lost voters card should go to INEC registration centre for their PVCs,” he said.
