The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the resumption of collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for registered voters ahead of the November 11 governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States. The Commission said the PVCs would be available for collection at all the Local Government area offices in the three States, eight in Bayelsa, 27 in Imo and 21 in Kogi.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, in a statement issued Tuesday, said the current exercise only covers the three States where Governorship elections will be held on Saturday 11th November 2023.
The Commission said it has also created other designated centres for local government with a high number of uncollected PVCs.
Olumekun noted that the details of all centres would be made available by the Resident Electoral Commissioners in the three States.
He said: “In continuation of our preparations for the forthcoming off-cycle Governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States, the Commission has approved the resumption of collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) for registered voters who could not collect their PVCs before the suspension of the exercise on 5th February 2023 ahead of the last General Election.”
Olumekun added that the Commission has earmarked weekdays, Monday - Friday, from 9.00am to 3.00pm for the collection of PVCs for a period of four weeks from 11th September - 9th October 2023.
Meanwhile, Olumekun said two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) have been redeployed to other States.
He noted that the REC for Edo State, Mr. Obo Effanga, takes over in Bayelsa State in view of the forthcoming off-cycle governorship election while Professor Ayobami Salami moves to Lagos from Ekiti State.
According to him, the two States are among those without RECs following the end of the tenure of the last holders of the offices.
The Commission urged all political parties and candidates to conduct themselves peacefully and to avoid utterances and actions capable of causing a breach of peace in their ongoing campaigns.
