INEC Expresses Concern as 241,715 Voters in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo Fail to Collect PVCs

With just two weeks remaining before the October 9, 2023 deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the November 11 governorship elections in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo states, more than 241,715 voters in these states have not yet claimed their PVCs.

Among these, 107,715 PVCs await collection in Kogi, while Imo State has over 134,000 unclaimed cards. The exact number of unclaimed PVCs in Bayelsa is currently unavailable.

INEC officials have firmly stated that there will be no extension of the PVC collection period and have urged registered voters not to wait until the last minute to pick up their cards.

The governorship elections in these states are scheduled for November 11, with 18 political parties fielding candidates in Kogi, 17 in Imo, and 16 in Bayelsa.

INEC had approved the final list of candidates for these off-cycle elections on June 6, and the list was made available through various channels, including the INEC website and social media platforms. The list also showed that two political parties are fielding female candidates in Kogi and Bayelsa, while none are doing so in Imo.

Notably, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State and Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State are seeking re-election, with Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State supporting the All Progressives Congress candidate, Usman Ododo.

INEC emphasized that the ongoing PVC collection exercise is exclusively for registered voters in these three states who were unable to collect their PVCs before the suspension of the exercise on February 5, 2023. Both INEC’s Chief Press Secretary and the Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner stressed the importance of collecting PVCs promptly to avoid undue pressure on state offices.

While encouraging people to collect their PVCs, INEC also noted that it has translated messages into various local languages to reach a wider audience.

In Imo State, PVC issuance resumed on September 11 and will continue until October 9. INEC has revealed that approximately 134,000 PVCs remain uncollected in Imo, distributed across the state’s 27 local government council secretariats.

The electoral commission has also taken steps to contact PVC owners in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi through bulk SMS messages. INEC assured that it is fully prepared for the upcoming elections, with all non-sensitive materials already received and ready for distribution. The Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security is coordinating security measures for the exercise.

In Bayelsa State, the specific number of unclaimed PVCs was not disclosed by the INEC office when contacted.