The Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Baritor Kpagih, on Tuesday announced that over 4,000 permanent voter’s cards, PVCs, were stolen at different centres in the state during the three-day registration and collection of exercise that was completed on Sunday.

Kpagih, who made the announcement at a press briefing held at the office of the commission in Ikpoba Hill, said that the electoral agency has notified the Nigeria Police Force about the incident in other to investigate and prosecute whoever perpetrated the act.

The REC said nine local government councils in the state, including Orionmwon, Etsako West and Ovia North East, all had same experience of stolen PVCs.

Kpagih said a total number of 1, 531, 580 cards were received from INEC headquarters in Abuja for distribution in Edo State out of which 883, 058 were distributed, remaining a balance of 683, 795 cards yet to be distributed.

“A total of 1, 531, 580 PVC were received. Out of this, so far, we have distributed a total of 883, 058 PVC. That gives us 57.7 per cent. We still have 683, 795 cards to distribute,” Kpagih said.

He added that INEC has not stopped the distribution of cards, as he urged eligible voters to visit the commission’s office in their various local governments to collect their cards.

The REC, however, stated that the commission would still hold the Continuous Voter Registration exercise between Tuesday, November 11, through Monday, November 17, for those who had not registered; those who registered but found their names missing in the voters’ register and those who made the voting age of 18 years old since the last registration exercise.

Kpagih, who said that a total of 3, 661 PVC were stolen in eight units of different wards in Orionmwon Local Government Area, warned that INEC would not hesitate to arrest and place in the custody of the police during the 2015 general elections anyone found with PVC that were not lawfully given to them by the commission.