INEC begins PVC collection in Kogi, Bayelsa, Imo

Before the governorship elections on November 11 in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo states, the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has resumed collecting Permanent Voter Cards PVCs in those states.

Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, made this revelation in a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja.

He stated, “As part of our ongoing preparations for the upcoming off-cycle governorship elections in the states of Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi, the Commission has approved the resumption of the collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) for registered voters who were unable to do so before the exercise was suspended on February 5, 2023, in advance of the previous general election. The current activity exclusively pertains to the three States where the Saturday, November 11, 2023, governorship elections will take place.

“All of our Local Government area offices in the three States—eight in Bayelsa, twenty-seven in Imo, and twenty-one in Kogi—will have PVCs accessible for pickup. The Commission has also established additional designated centers with a significant volume of uncollected PVCs. The Resident Electoral Commissioners in the three States will provide information on all centers.

He claims that for a period of four weeks, from September 11 through October 9, 2023, the Commission has set aside weekdays (Monday through Friday) from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm for the collection of PVCs.

Two resident electoral commissioners (RECs) have been transferred to other States in the interim.

In light of the upcoming off-cycle governorship election, Mr. Obo Effanga, the REC for Edo State, takes over in Bayelsa State, according to Olumekun, while Professor Ayobami Salami relocates from Ekiti State to Lagos.

Following the expiration of the terms of the former occupants of the offices, the two States are among those without RECs.

The Commission urges all political parties and candidates to behave peacefully and to refrain from saying or doing anything that could disrupt the peace while running for office.