The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) Cross River State, Dr. Frankland Briyai has said that there are over 72,000 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) yet to be collected.
Briyai made this disclosure on Monday while hosting some members of the Association of Cross River Online Journalists (ACROJ), during a familiarisation visit to his office in Calabar.
He said “since commencement of the exercise last year, the commission has successfully registered over 188,000 new voters and distributed 5,000 PVCs”.
He urged journalists to cross-check and verify facts before reporting and pointed out that election matters were sensitive and if not accurately reported, may trigger a negative or violent reaction from citizens.
In his response, the Chairman of ACROJ, Mr. Hope Obeten, emphasised the need for closer interaction and engagement between the media and the Commission, stressing that it would ensure balance and fair reportage in the nation’s interest.
He said: “ACROJ has over 10 active online platforms reporting news from Cross River State, we will continue to maintain professionalism and strengthen the cordial relationship we have cultivated with the Commission”.
