INEC debunks viral video alleging policemen extortion at PVCs collection centre in Delta

PRESS STATEMENT

PVC COLLECTION: VIRAL VIDEO ALLEGING EXTORTION BY POLICEMEN AT UWVIE INEC LGA OFFICE FALSE

The attention of the Hon. Resident Electoral Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC), Delta State, Rev. Monday Udoh Tom, was drawn to a viral video alleging extortion by policemen from registrants, who came to INEC Uwvie LGA office to collect their Permanent Voters Cards(PVCs), on Tuesday 13^th December 2022.

The Hon. REC directed an immediate investigation, to ascertain the veracity of the content of the video, following which, the Electoral Officer, Uwvie LGA, as well as authorities of Delta State Police Command, were contacted to get their side of the story.

The Hon. REC further directed independent review of the video, by IT experts, so as to corroborate or test the validity of information supplied by both the EO and Police.

FACTS OF THE MATTER

After careful consideration of the information supplied by EO, Police authority and IT expert, the following facts have been established:

1. The video was shot outside Uwvie LGA, INEC office.
2. The video was shot at exactly 4:30pm, about hour and half, after the mandatory closing time of 3:00pm for PVC collection.
3. The said author of the video was among those, whom the EO, in exercise of his discretion, became a beneficiary of the extension of time, beyond the mandatory closing time of 3:00pm to collect his PVC.
4. But it became necessary for the EO, at some point to announce to those who were on queue to collect their PVC, that, collection of PVC would stop at exactly 4:15 pm, to allow for the daily inventory and records of PVC collected, with a plea for resumption of collection at exactly 9:00am, the next day, as directed by the Commission.
5. Before this announcement, some officers of the Nigeria Police Force, on routine patrol also stopped by to collect their PVCs, and in line with the demands of their duties, were accorded priority, to be able to collect their PVCs.
6. At exactly 4:15 pm, the EO announced a halt to the collection of PVC, directing the security to ensure every none staff of the Commission exits the premises, after which the exits and entrance gates were firmly padlocked, leaving only the staff of the Commission within to carry out their duties of inventory and reconciliation of PVCs collected for the day.
7. Unknown to the EO, the decision to halt PVC collection, well after the mandatory hours did not go down well with those who could not collect theirs, at the time, hence the recourse to spewing falsehood.
8. It is also pertinent to note that, journalists from respected community-based and national medium were around to monitor the collection and no mention of policemen extorting registrants was made in their reportage.
9. It is also interesting to note that, the author conveniently forgot to capture the said policemen extorting money from those who had come to collect their PVCs.
10. In the light of the above, the Hon. REC emphatically debunk the narrative of the said video, as a product of wrongful way of ventilating anger, at the EO and men of the Nigeria Police.
11. The Hon. REC, therefore, appeals to those yet to collect their PVCs to exercise restraint and show understanding in the course of this exercise, scheduled for 12^th December, 2022 to 22^nd January 2023.
12. The Hon. REC further assures Deltans, who could not collect their PVCs at the respective INEC LGA offices, to do so at their respective Wards, from 6^th January to 15^th January , 2023, while those who are unable to collect their PVCs at the Ward level, after 15^th January have opportunity of doing so, at INEC LGA offices, from  16^th January 2023.

Bukola Ojeme

Ag. Head of Department

Voter Education and Publicity

INEC, Delta State.