Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi Guber: INEC Approves Resumption of Collection of PVCs

• Redeploys two RECs

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

Ahead of the November 11 governorship elections in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo States, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 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 February 5, 2023.

INEC National Commissioner and  Chairman, 

Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, in a statement Tuesday said the current exercise only covers the three states where governorship elections will hold on Saturday, November 11, 2023.

He 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.”

The national commissioner 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. 

He added that the electoral body has also created other designated centres for 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 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 September 11 to October 9, 2023. 

Meanwhile, Olumekun said two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) have been redeployed in 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 Prof. Ayobami Salami moves to Lagos from Ekiti State. 

According to him, the two states are among those without RECs following the end of 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 the peace in their ongoing campaigns.