On Wednesday, the Independent National Electoral Commission reported that Gombe State still lacked 231,900 Permanent Voter Cards.

Speaking during a briefing at the Commission’s office, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in charge of the state, Umar Ibrahim, revealed that the figure was as of Tuesday.

Ibrahim urged the registrants to pick up their PVCs in order to vote in the 2023 elections after revealing that the number of PVCs yet uncollected was based on the prior registration for the 2019 elections.

The REC said, “The total number of uncollected PVCs in Gombe State as of December 20, 2022, is 231,900.

“I urge you to join us in calling on those who registered, transferred, updated their biodata or requested for replacement of their lost or damaged PVCs to go and collect their PVCs. The Commission’s preparation has however not been without challenges.”

Ibrahim emphasized that there were plans in place to ensure that run-offs were held if required and said that the Commission would prefer not to disrupt the process.

“That will wait until that time because we can’t say there will be run-off or there will not be run-off elections but when the time comes, INEC is fully prepared for it,” Ibrahim said.

He condemned the consistent burning of its facilities, stating that the Commission was ever committed to free, fair and credible polls.

He added, “The inglorious burning of our facilities in some parts of the country is a deliberate step aimed at creating fear in the hearts of Nigerians and preventing the Commission from carrying out its constitutional mandate.

“In the face of these challenges, we remain resolute and committed to the conduct of free, fair, credible, all-inclusive and accountable elections that all Nigerians will be proud of in 2023. Even though we have not witnessed any case of destruction of our offices/assets in Gombe State, we have sadly noticed some cases of clashes between supporters of opposing parties and destruction of billboards/posters.”