The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced that the collection of the Permanent Voter’s Cards will start on September 11, 2023, in the states of Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo ahead of the off-cycle governorship elections.
This was said in a statement released on Tuesday, signed by National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun.
The final list of candidates for the off-cycle governorship elections in the states of Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi was approved by INEC on June 6, 2023.
It was observed that the permission was in accordance with the Electoral Act’s requirement that the list be published no later than 150 days prior to election day.
The conclusive compilation revealed that a total of 18 political parties presented candidates in the state of Kogi, 17 in Imo, and 16 in Bayelsa, respectively.
Nonetheless, the Commission asserted that the collecting of PVCs was intended just for registered voters who were unable to retrieve their cards prior to the cessation of the activity on February 5, 2023, in anticipation of the most recent general election.
The statement read in part, “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 for registered voters who could not collect their PVCs before the suspension of the exercise on 5th of February 2023 ahead of the last General Election.
“The current exercise only covers the three States where Governorship elections will be held on Saturday, 11th November 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 a large number of uncollected PVCs. The details of all centres will be made available by the Resident Electoral Commissioners in the three States.
“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 September 11 to October 9, 2023.”
