INEC resumes PVC collection in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi ahead of November 11 governorship elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given the green light for people to start picking up their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) again, especially in preparation for the upcoming governorship elections in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo states.

INEC has made it clear that during this period, individuals who had registered but couldn’t obtain their PVCs prior to the suspension of the exercise before the last general elections will have the opportunity to finally receive their cards.

Sam Olumekun, a national commissioner at INEC, stated on Tuesday that the commission has designated weekdays (from Monday to Friday) between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM for PVC collection. This collection window will be available for a duration of four weeks, running from September 11th to October 9th, 2023.

“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 (REC) in the three states.

The commission also redeployed two RECs to other states. The REC for Edo State, Obo Effanga, takes over in Bayelsa for the forthcoming off-cycle governorship poll, while 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,” INEC said.

The electoral umpire urged 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.