Eligible voters in Umuahia, Abia State, have expressed frustration and disappointment after reportedly failing to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) on the first day of the nationwide collection exercise.

The affected voters accused officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of leaving designated collection centres before the scheduled closing time, raising concerns about the arrangements for the exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to Vanguard, no INEC officials were present at Ugba Primary School, Umuahia, when its correspondent visited the centre at about 2pm on Friday.

A similar situation was observed at School Road Primary School at approximately 2:42pm, where electoral officials were also absent. Enquiries reportedly revealed that personnel who had earlier arrived at the centre had already departed.

One of the affected voters, Innocent Odoenelam, a resident of World Bank Housing Estate, Umuahia, said he hurried to the collection centre after hearing a radio announcement that PVCs were available for collection, only to discover that the officials had left.

Odoenelam, who arrived at about 2:30pm, described the experience as discouraging, noting that the official closing time was 3pm.

He urged INEC to ensure that its personnel remain at designated centres throughout the stipulated collection hours, warning that difficulties in obtaining PVCs could discourage eligible citizens from participating in elections.

“I feel heavily disappointed because I left a lot of things I should be doing to rush down here to pick up my PVC. I feel discouraged,” he said.

Despite his disappointment, Odoenelam said he would return on Monday to collect his card, stressing that he remained determined to exercise his voting rights.

Another voter, Francis Egwuibe, said he arrived at his designated collection centre as early as 8:30am but left after waiting beyond 9am without seeing any INEC official.

He explained that he returned in the afternoon in another attempt to collect his PVC but again found that the officials had departed.

Egwuibe questioned why electoral personnel could not remain at the centres throughout the announced collection period, considering the time and transportation expenses voters incurred in accessing the facilities.

He also called on INEC to properly sensitise its staff on their responsibilities, arguing that the reported situation raised concerns about the organisation of the collection exercise.

Similarly, a female voter, Chioma Njoku, accused the commission of treating prospective voters as though they did not matter.

She warned that such experiences could discourage citizens who were willing to participate in the electoral process, particularly those making efforts to obtain their voter cards ahead of the next general elections.

The affected voters called on INEC to review its arrangements, ensure that officials adhere to designated operating hours and make PVC collection more accessible to eligible citizens.

When contacted for comments, INEC's spokesperson in Abia State, Victor Abraham, promised to respond after making the necessary enquiries.

The commission's response to the allegations was still being awaited at the time of reporting.