33, 000 pvcs Still Uncollected In Bayelsa – inec

Ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Bayelsa State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says no fewer than 33, 000 Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) belonging to registered voters are still uncollected.
INEC National Commissioner in charge of Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo States, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, disclosed this in Yenegoa, the state capital at the official presentation of voters register to 45 political parties participating in the gubernatorial election.
Agbamuche-Mbu, expressed surprise of the 920, 000 registered voters in the state, the number of uncollected PVC’s (33, 000) was an indication that many voters were yet to collect their cards and urged them to do so before expiration set by INEC.
She, however, advised the political parties to submit names of their agents not later 14 days before the election.
Meanwhile, the election umpire has said that Bayelsa and Kogi “are not easy states” when it comes to conducting governorship elections, according to its National Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu,
Yakubu who stated this during a meeting with the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council in Yenegoa, also spoke with other electoral delegates from the state, also said the attitude of the political class in both states had remained a challenge and expressed his concern on the two states.
He stated, “Today, it is exactly 30 days to the kick-off of the offseason election in both Bayelsa and Kogi, The eyes of the entire country and the world would focus on both elections for a number of reasons.
“This coming election would be the first major elections since the conduct of the general elections that would help us to improve on forthcoming elections. Secondly, and to be very candid with you my royal fathers, Bayelsa and Kogi are not easy states when it comes to conducting major elections, particularly governorship elections.
“The challenges is not only geographical in terms of the terrain and, therefore, it has an impact on electoral logistics, but another big challenge is the attitude of particularly the political class which has been a major concern to the commission.
“We are all witnesses what happened in the party primaries for the nomination of candidates. Now campaign for votes has commenced, and would continue for one month until 24 hours to the elections,” the INEC boss said.