The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved September 11 to October 9 for the resumption of the collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo states.
The commission made this known in a statement by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, in Abuja on Tuesday.
Olumekun said the approval was given in continuation of INEC preparations for the forthcoming off-cycle Governorship Elections in the three states holding on Nov. 11.
He said the exercise was only for registered voters in the three states who could not collect their PVCs before the suspension of the exercise on Feb. 5.
“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.
“In addition, 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 (RECs) in the three States.
“The commission has earmarked weekdays (Monday – Friday) from 9am to 3pm for the collection of PVCs for a period of four weeks from Sept. 11 to Oct. 9,’’ he said.
Olumekun added that in the same development, two RECs have been redeployed to other states.
“The REC for Edo, Mr Obo Effanga, takes over in Bayelsa in view of the forthcoming off-cycle governorship election, while Prof. Ayobami Salami moves to Lagos from Ekiti.
“The two states are among those without RECs following the end of tenure of the last holders of the offices,’’ he said.
He enjoined 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.
