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By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
The Resident Electoral Commissioner of Bayelsa State, REC, Dr. Emmanuel Hart, said the commission will begin the distribution of PVCs to registrants from December 12, 2022 to January 22, 2023.
Dr. Hart who made this known during a stakeholders meeting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State said the distribution exercise is meant for new registrants, transfers, replacements and for those who want to update and make corrections on their voter’s 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 the Friday 6th to Sunday 15th January, 2023 the distribution will be devolved the various wards and later back to the LGAs offices 16th to 22nd January, 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 resident electoral commissioner urged political parties to sensitize their members and the electorates on the need to collect their voter’s cards so as not to be disenfranchised in the coming elections.
He reminded political parties to submit their party agents list in accordance with the timelines on or 30th of December, 2023 for presidential and National Assembly elections and 6th January, 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 staffs and 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-22nd January, 2023.
“The collection will be every day from 9.00am to 3.00pm including Saturdays and Sundays.
“The commission’s staff have been briefed and trained on the procedures for the exercise to ensure it is seamless and hitch-free. Help Desk officers will be in each of the eight (8) LGA offices to assist individuals with challenges. We also have contact phone numbers for each electoral office for enquiries about the collection exercise and request for assistance”, he stated.
