December 08, (THEWILL) – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), will commence the distribution of PVCs in Bayelsa State, from December 12, 2022, to January 22, 2023.
This was disclosed by the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Emmanuel Hart, during a stakeholders’ meeting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Hart said the distribution exercise is meant for new registrants, transfers, replacements and those who want to update and make corrections on their voters’ cards.
Represented by the Administrative Secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Engr. Okop Umobong, Hart stated that the distribution will take place at the INEC Electoral Offices in the LGAs, adding that from January 6 to 15, 2023, the distribution will be devolved at various Wards and later back to the LGAs Offices from January 16 to 22, 2023.
He pointed out that the Commission’s staff has been trained on procedures that will lead to a smooth, seamless and hitch-free exercise, adding that Help Desk Officers will be positioned at the LGAs Offices to assist individuals with challenges.
He noted that the total number of registered voters in Bayelsa is 1, 250, 102, while the total number of collected voters’ cards is over 960,000, which according to him, the percentage collection is poor.
The REC urged political parties to sensitise their members and the electorates on the need to collect their voters’ cards so as not to be disenfranchised in the coming elections.
He also reminded political parties to submit their Party Agents list in accordance with the timelines on or December 30, 2023, for Presidential and National Assembly Elections and January 6, 2023, for Governorship and State Assembly Elections.
“Our deliberations here today will bring you up to speed on the modalities for the Collection of PVCs. As we concluded the display of the Voter Register for claims and objections, as required by law, we received, at the state level, batches of PVCs produced for all registrants, which include new registrants, transfers, replacements and updates/corrections.
“The total number of registered voters in Bayelsa State is now 1,250,102.
“The PVCs have been sorted and counted by our Local Government Area Staff and will be taken to the various INEC Electoral Offices in readiness for collection by the owners.
“The Commission has fixed Monday, 12th December 2022, to Sunday, 22nd January 2023, for the collection of PVCs. The collection will be at the INEC Electoral Offices in the LGAs.
“However, we shall devolve to the Registration Areas (Wards) from Friday, 6th to Sunday, 15th January 2023. We shall revert to the LGA Offices from 16th to 22nd January 2023.
“The collection will be every day from 9:00am to 3:00pm including Saturdays and Sundays”, he explained.
