- Olumekun confirmed approval for INEC preparations for the upcoming off-cycle Governorship Elections in three states on November 11
- Olumekun stated that two Regional Economic Commissions (RECs) have been redeployed to other states
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given the states of Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo permission to resume collecting Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) from September 11 to October 9.
Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, said this on Tuesday in Abuja.
Olumekun claimed that the approval was issued as part of INEC’s ongoing preparations for the next off-cycle governorship elections, which would take place in the three states on November 11.
According to him, the exercise was only for registered voters in the three states who were unable to obtain their PVCs prior to the activity’s suspension on February 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.