Date: 2018-09-14

The Independent National Electoral Commission has said that 980,425 permanent voter's cards (PVCs) have been collected in Kwara State between 2015 and August 2018.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Garba Madami, stated this in Ilorin yesterday while receiving the state Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by its chairman, Umar Abdulwahab.

Madami disclosed that a total of 264,823 PVCs were yet to be claimed by their owners in the state, adding that only 50,571 voters collected the card between 2017/2018

He expressed confidence the 2019 general elections would be the best in the country, saying the commission was duty bound to conduct free, fair and credible polls.

Madami said the INEC had put in place measures to address the challenges, declaring that "I want the state to be rated best". He, however, urged the media to be wary of fake news, crosscheck facts and figures and refer to the commission when the need arises so as not to mislead the public.

In his remarks, Abdulwahab, said the union had enjoyed cordial relationship with the electoral umpire and added that it should be sustained especially now that the elections are around the corner.

He also stressed the need to make available right information at the appropriate time if the era of fake news must be ended.

He urged the commission to allow the union handle accreditation of journalists that would be assigned to cover the forthcoming general elections in the state as done in the Ekiti governorship poll held few weeks ago.

Abdulwahab assured the electoral body of cooperation and support to achieve its objectives of conducting free, fair and credible elections in the state.