Monday 20 February 2023

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2023: States With The Highest Number Of Uncollected PVCs


 PVC: 4.175 m voters disenfranchised in 10 states


Lagos tops figure with 928,951; Oyo-800,000, Kano-468,314


NO fewer than 4,175,006 registered voters in 10 states will not vote in the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections.


Reason: They were not able to collect their Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, before the February 5 deadline to do so. ended on


The INEC has insisted that voters without PVCs will not be allowed to vote.


Among the 10 states whose data on the number of PVCs collected and unclaimed were ready at the weekend, Lagos came tops with 928,951 unclaimed PVCs. Lagos is followed by Oyo, which has about 800,000 uncollected PVCs; Kano (468,314), and Ogun (412,086). 
The rest are Osun (391,145); Niger (353,344); Ondo (303,955); Kwara (218,078); Plateau (184,744) and Cross River (114,389).

In Lagos, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, [b]Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, said 6,708, 451 about 87/87 per cent of the 7,637,402 registered voters collected their PVCs in the state.


This leaves 928,951 about 12.16 per cent registrants who were unable to collect their PVCs.


A breakdown of the figures according to a document obtained from the commission’s office in Lagos, shows:[/b]

*Old PVCs received – 6,570,291 

*Old PVCs collected – 5, 747,651

*Uncollected old PVCs – 822,640 (12.52%)

*New PVCs received — 1,067,111


*New PVCs collected — 960,800 (90.04%)

*Uncollected new PVCs — 106,311 (9.96%)

*Total PVCs received — 7,637,402

*Total PVCs collected — 6,708,451 (87.87%)

*Overall uncollected PVCs — 928,951 (12.16%)

468,314 PVCs unclaimed in Kano
In Kano, a document from the INEC office showed that 468,314 registrants could not obtain their PVCs when the exercise ended on February 25

According to the document of the 399,856 unclaimed PVCs in 2019, only 28,077 have been collected leaving a balance of 371,779 unclaimed.

During the 2021/2022 Continuous Voters Registration, CVR, exercise, 444,626 voters were listed of which 368,052 PVCs were distributed leaving 76,574 uncollected.

In like manner, of 66,479 voters that did transfers, 19,951 could not pick up the cards while 46,518 people did.

391,145 voters disenfranchised in Osun

In Osun State, 1,955,657 persons registered as voters with the INEC but the number of PVCs collected as of February 5, 2023 is 1,564,512.

This leaves 391,145 unpicked PVCs at the commission’s office in the state.

353,344 PVCs unpicked in Niger
In Niger State, 212,329 PVCs were collected while 87,329 remain uncollected for those registered during the CVR period.

For the transfer of the voters cards, 69,009 were collected while 40,901were uncollected.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Niger State, Ahmed Yisua Ahmed, who disclosed this Vanguard said the total PVC from 2019 collected is 2,443,463 while 225,114 remain uncollected.


184,744 voters unlucky on the Plateau
In Plateau State, the breakdown of the PVC collection revealed that from the 2019 batch, 18, 466 PVCs were collected while 49,835 remains uncollected.

In the 2021/2022 batch, there were 292,949 fresh registration out of which 211,123 PVCs representing 72% were collected while 81,826 remain uncollected.

For those who did transfers, 242,600 PVCs were received out of which 189,517 representing 76% were collected while 53,083 remained uncollected.

The fate of 218,078 voters in Kwara

In Kwara, no fewer than 218,078 PVCs have not been collected just as 415,860 was collected recently

Spokesman of INEC in the state, Ibrahim Bolaji, said 1,565,829 PVCs had been collected since 2019.

1,687,389 PVCs collected, 303,955 unclaimed in Ondo
In Ondo, 1,687,389 PVCs have been collected while 303,955 are yet to be collected.

Administrative Secretary of INEC, in the state, Oyelami Oyekola Oludayo, who confirmed this, said that “this is out of a total of 1,991,344 registered voters in the state.

114,389 PVCs uncollected in Cross River

In Cross River,the INEC disclosed that out of the 331,427 persons who registered since 2019 only 217,038 have collected their PVCs
The Commission’s Spokesperson, Mrs. Tonia Nwobi, said that 217, 038 PVCs have also been distributed out of 331,427 PVCs received.

She further gave the break down as follows: 2019 PVCs collected is 16,338 out of 97,318; 2021/2022 fresh registration PVCs collected is 200,700 out of 234,109 received; and 2021/2022 transferred PVCs collected is 42,186 out of 71,885 received.

[b]800,000 PVCs unclaimed in Oyo
[/b]In Oyo, the INEC said it was still compiling the list as of press time however, a source at the commission said about 800,000 PVCs have not been collected.

[b]Over 400,000 PVCs yet to be collected in Ogun
[/b]In Ogun State, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Niyi Ijalaye, said: “A total of two million, six hundred and eighty-eight thousand (2,688,305) voters were registered in Ogun State, of which two million, two hundred and seventy-six thousand, two hundred and nineteen (2,276,219) PVCs were collected by their owners as at the end of the exercise on 5th February, 2023”. 

He added that 412,086 PVCs have not been collected in the state. 

Sunday 19 February 2023

Naira Scarcity: Commercial Sex Workers Count Losses, Decry Low Patronage


 Some commercial sex workers in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, have decried low patronage in their business due to the scarcity of Naira notes.


Some of them who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Sunday, said the scarcity of the notes was a threat and had crippled their businesses.

They said that although the currency swap policy was commendable, the current mode of implementation was a challenge to their business.

Alexandra Tricia (pseudonym), a commercial sex worker, said her customers had reduced drastically due to the current ‘no cash syndrome’.

She described the development as both frustrating and slow for the business.

“The business is no longer booming like before because there is no cash anywhere.

“Some of my customers will come and after negotiations, they will ask if I have an account so they can transfer the money to me.

“When I give them the account number, they will press their phones and tell me that they have transferred some money.

“The worst part of it is that you will see their own alert in their phones but most times you will not get your own alert.


They will want you to start the service immediately without you getting an alert and when you refuse, some of them will start making trouble.

“Infact, there is one of my colleagues that a customer sent a transfer alert to but up till now, the money is still pending but she has serviced the man
,” she said.

Another sex worker, Ifedi Ote (pseudonym), a university dropout, said many of her colleagues in the business had left temporarily due to the current cash crunch.

She said the development had caused customers who had little cash at hand to pay ‘next to nothing’ for their services.

“Clients who have cash will price you as low as N1,500 to N3,000.

“When you refuse, they will tell you that the amount is the only cash they have on them and because I need cash, I will be forced to accept the price.


Even the Point of Sale (PoS) agent where we usually direct our customers to for money has suddenly ran out of cash for the past two weeks.

“I think this policy is a good one because it is meant to curb crime but the banks are not implementing it well,” she said.

Another commercial sex worker, Tracy Ehigbere, appealed to the authorities concerned to urgently address issues around the currency swap policy.

NAN reports that some of the mammy markets and brothels visited along FCT satellite towns which usually witnessed beehive of activities were deserted.

2023 Election: Pastor Paul Adefarasin Disowns Mischievous Posts



 Friends, in the run-up to the 2023 elections, I implore you not to be swayed by mischievous posts, supposedly from me. 


I have come across some random and unauthorized communications making the rounds that have been ‘stitched together’ by unscrupulous individuals who are unaware that by virtue of my office, I must remain non-partisan.

Please note that I will never ask you to cast your vote for a particular candidate. However, I will advise you to be mindful, such that whomever you vote for will set us on our way to a purposeful and prosperous Nigeria.

We will continue to emphasize the need for a leader with the right values, who will prioritize the development and growth of Nigeria and Nigerians. Someone who not only understands the assignment but can truly get the job done.

Most importantly, remember your voting decision is solely yours to make. I only ask that you do so responsibly.

Corps Members Handling BVAS On Election Day Will Be Tracked – INEC


 Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has said that only National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) members are authorised election officers to handle the Bimodal Voter Authentication System (BVAS) during the February 25 and March 11 general elections, IGBERETV reports.


Speaking after a tour of the training centre for INEC’s ad-hoc staff or presiding officers, and inspection of facilities of the national collation centre at the International Conference Centre (ICC) on Saturday, February 18, Yakubu said corps members were mobilized because INEC can't just rely only on its workforce for the conduct of a credible and peaceful election.

He further revealed that corps members handling the BVAS will be tracked on election day. Yakubu said;

“Nigeria is fortunate to have young citizens like you. There is no way INEC can conduct elections without the NYSC. You are simply indispensable in the conduct of elections in Nigeria. We cannot conduct elections with our workforce alone.

“So we have to rely on you and other categories of staff. But you are going to operate at the most important level of the electoral system; at the polling unit levels because that is where citizens go and vote. All of you will swear an oath of neutrality.

“Your loyalty is to Nigeria and Nigerians and not to any political party or any candidate. You will be the INEC Chairman at your polling unit. You are the king at the polling units.

“You are the only ones that will handle the BVAS at polling units on election day. Take this job seriously. We are tracking you as well so that we can know who is holding which BVAS. Do not give this BVAS to someone else.”

Time To Reboot Nigeria" - Peter Obi Addresses Nigerians 7 Days Before Election


 Labour Party's presidential candidate, Peter Obi has again asked Nigerians to vote for him in Nigeria's presidential election coming up in less than 7 days, IGBERETV reports.


He wrote on his Twitter page;

"Fellow Nigerians, we are down to Crunch Time - 7 Days to the Main Day. Our strength is in our diversity. We need to reset and reboot Nigeria in all ramifications –leadership and governance, security of life and properties, economic and political freedom.

"We must celebrate our Shared Values and Responsibilities. In this march to freedom, I have not come out for myself! I have come out for the millions of youths that are losing hope in our beloved country! Datti and I, wish to deliver a new Nigeria that is POssible!

"I have come out for the millions of women who are afraid of tomorrow and what it holds for them and their children! I have come out for the poor who are asking whether it’s a sin to be a Nigerian! For them, I have come! For them, Datti has come!

"Our message has been consistent. Nigeria is not bereft of the required human capital necessary for good leadership. Nigeria is also not bereft of good governance ideas and plans.

"However, our country is bedeviled by the impunity of those few who have perfected the dubious act of State Capture. These national interest issues need to be addressed urgently. The process will start in earnest on 25th February.

"Security will be a national imperative; WE will tweak the national security architecture, via holistic reform of the security sector and governance. We will restructure, reequip and reorient the Nigerian Police.

"This will include 3 level policing- Federal, state and community. We will raise the population to police officer ratio to a higher level and ensure properly manned, equipped and technologically driven security system.

"The change we seek to bring will be all encompassing. WE will bring back Patriotism and national Pride. Loyalty should be to God and Country. The Constitution and Rule of Law will have primacy. May God help Us all. -PO"

EFCC Denies Raiding Tinubu's House


 The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has debunked reports circulating social media that its operatives raided the home of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Presidential Candidate…


The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has debunked reports circulating social media that its operatives raided the home of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and recovered N400billion.

This was contained in a statement on Sunday by Wilson Uwujaren, Head, Media and Publicity of the commission.


According to online reports, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered EFCC to raid Tinubu’s house and N400billion of the new naira notes were recovered in his underground house.

But the anti-corruption agency in the statement titled ‘EFCC Did Not Raid Tinubu’s Home’, said no such operation was carried out by its operatives.

“The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to a report circulating in the social media, claiming that operatives of the Commission raided the home of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, standard-bearer of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the forthcoming presidential elections and recovered a humongous sum of N400billion.


“The Commission wishes to state that no such operation was carried out by the EFCC. The public is enjoined to disregard the report as fake news,” the statement read.

My Decision To Close Land Borders Was Appreciated By Nigerians — Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari says he closed the country’s land borders to encourage Nigerians to produce food for their consumption. He said a...