An international joint election observer mission in Nigeria has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently complete the distribution of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) in their possession to ensure that majority of properly registered voters are not disenfranchised in the February elections.

They are also asking the INEC to accelerate decisive efforts to increase voting by Internally Displaced Persons across northern Nigeria.

Briefing reporters on Tuesday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, the observer mission under the auspices of the International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute said the February 2015 presidential race was likely to be Nigeria’s most competitive since transition from military rule and that major lapses were needed to be addressed to ensure credibility of the process.

Some of the issues they said should be urgently attended to prior to the election were the impact of the Boko Haram insurgency, circulation of light weapons, the hope of voting for the Internally Displaced Persons, miscommunication of INEC’s operations and activities towards electoral integrity, voter education and election administration.

To avert major complications in the forthcoming elections, they also recommended that the Federal Government reinforce security measures within the framework of the law and without intimidation, to facilitate the conduct of the polls in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The observer mission also urged community leaders, religious, civil and trade groups to launch a collective national movement for violence free elections and also make contingency planning for a network of agents of peace across communities.

The INEC has had difficulties distributing PVCs across Nigeria, with some voters saying they have not been able to collect their voter’s card.

On monday, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, expressed fears he may not vote in next month’s general elections as he was yet to collect his PVC.