The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC says the commission is putting in place measures to ensure that Internally Displaced Persons from recent attacks in some parts of Plateau State are not disenfranchised in the forthcoming general elections in the country.

Head of Department Voter Education and Publicity INEC in Plateau State, Osaretin Imahiyearobo disclosed this when he featured in 103politics, a KT 103.9 FM political programme.

Imahiyearobo said the residence commission has reached out to leaders of the affected communities to come up with records of PVCs that were either burnt or misplaced as a result of the unfortunate incident, adding that INEC will replace the cards before the elections.

He said the commission is also considering how the displaced persons will cast their votes if they have not returned to their communities before the February polls.

Speaking on the planned suspension of the continuous voter registration on the 17th of August, Imehiyearobo stated that the move is to enable INEC print permanent voter cards for those that have registered before the election adding that the exercise will continue after the February polls.

He stated that the suspension is not to disenfranchise anyone as widely speculated rather it is to assist registrants who registered to get their cards printed.

The HOD voter education plateau State further disclosed that those who registered or sought for transfer between April to December last year can collect their cards while PVCs for those who either registered or applied from transfer from January 2018 cards will be available by the end of the July or first week of August.

He called on registrants to avoid rush hour ahead of the deadline, adding that collection of PVCs will continue till when it is two weeks to the elections inline with the electoral guard lines.

By Rwang Tengwong

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INEC assures Displaced Persons Who Lost PVCs of Replacement to Avoid Disenfranchisement