The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has announced September 11, 2023, as the date for the resumption of the collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states.
The three are the states where the Commission will be conducting end-of-tenure Governorship elections, scheduled to hold on Saturday, November 11, 2023.
Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), and National Commissioner, Mr. Sam Olumekun mni, made the disclosure in a press statement issued on Tuesday.
The IVEC Chairman said, “In continuation of our preparations for the forthcoming off-cycle Governorship elections in Bayelsa, lmo, 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.”
He stressed that, “The current exercise only covers the three States where Governorship elections will hold on Saturday 11th November 2023.”
Mr. Olumekun explained that “The PVCs will be available for collection at all our Local Government Area offices in the three States: eight in Bayelsa, 27 in Imo, and 21 in Kogi.”
He added that “the Commission has created other designated centres with large number of uncollected PVCs. The details of all centres will be made available by the Resident Electoral Commissioners in the three States.”
He further disclosed that “The Commission has earmarked weekdays (Monday – Friday) from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm for the collection of PVCs for a period of four weeks from 11th September – 9th October 2023.”
The IVEC Chairman also announced that two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) have been redeployed. they are, “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.”
“The two States are among those without RECs following the end of tenure of the last holders of the offices,” he added.
He also used the opportunity to call on parties and their candidates to play by the rules and avoid acts that would disrupt the electoral process in the states. He said “The Commission once again enjoins 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.
