Kogi, Bayelsa Polls: INEC Begins Uncollected PVCs’ Distribution, Sept 2

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will begin the distribution of 219,935 uncollected Personal Voter Cards (PVCs) in Bayelsa and Kogi on Sept. 2 preparatory to governorship elections in the states.
The commission announced this in a statement issued by Mr Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee yesterday in Abuja.
Okoye said that a total number of uncollected PVCs for Kogi stood at 170,644 while that of Bayelsa were 49, 291 cards.
The national commissioner said that the decision was taken yesterday when the commission met and reviewed its preparations for the conduct of the states’ elections, scheduled for Nov. 16.
Okoye said that the collection which would end on Sept. 30, would take place at the Registration Areas (RAs)/Wards in each of the local governments and Distribution Officers (DOs) between 9.a.m to 3.p.m from Monday to Friday.
He said that there would be two teams of Distribution Officers per local government, adding that the officers would rotate the distribution of the PVCs in the RAs or from the community to community, based on a schedule agreed upon by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) and the stakeholders.
“The Resident Electoral Commissioners will provide contacts and telephone numbers where registered voters that have not collected their PVCs can call and make inquiries relating to the collection.
“The commission will send bulk short messages to the registered voters in the two states that have yet to collect their PVCs.
“The commission will also display the list of registered voters that have yet to collect their PVCs at the respective state and local government offices of the commission and at other designated public places,” he said.
Okoye added that the commission would engages faith-based, professional, civil society and community-based organisations to create increased awareness for the collection of PVCs.