Distribution of permanent voters card in Uyo begins slowly

The distribution of permanent voter cards by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commenced yesterday in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom state capital. According to the News Agency of Nigeria, correspondents who visited some polling units in Uyo, reported that officials of INEC were not at the venue of the distribution as at 11am. At Government Primary School Aka 1 polling unit, there was no INEC official except a security officer, who said he had been there since 8:30am. The security officer, who declined to give his name, however, said only few voters showed up at the unit to collect their cards. The situation was not different when our correspondent visited Modern Training Institute polling unit located along Aka Road in Uyo, as only the security was seen at the venue waiting for INEC officials. However, at Ward 2 Unit 022 located along Asutan Street
in Uyo metropolis, a few voters had gone to collect their cards. A corps member on duty at the polling unit, Friday Edward, said he had issued out only six permanent voter’s card as at 11:45am. Edward said that there was no challenge in the centre. He said, “I started late because materials were not released to me on time. Only six persons have exchanged their temporary voter cards with the permanent voter cards. For now, there is no problem as the job is going on smoothly.” The distribution of permanent voter cards by INEC would last for three days from Friday.