Niger Delta
Bayelsa Polls: INEC Declares 33,606 Uncollected PVCs … As Key Contestants’ Areas Lead In Non-collection
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said there are about 33,606 uncollected Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in Bayelsa State.
The Tide gathered last Thursday in Yenagoa, the state capital, at the maiden press briefing held by the newly redeployed Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) to the State, Barr. Obo Effanga.
“Upon assumption of office last week, I met with the State’s Commissioner of Police”, he said.
He reiterated that he would continue consultations with critical stakeholders and other security formations, as well as meet with the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to foster an harmonious working relationship as the elections draw closer.
“I’ve also met with all the governorship candidates and state Chairmen of the 16 political parties which fielded candidates for the November 11th, 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship polls”, the REC added.
Effanga emphasized that he had at the various meetings restated INEC’s commitment in conducting credible polls.
“I’ve told political parties and candidates for the November 11th Bayelsa State Governorship election that the INEC here in the state under my stewardship is and shall continue to be an unbiased electoral umpire, so any candidate or party which desires to win the election must have voters to vote for him or her and their parties to win”, Effanga restated.
The electoral chief, who also indicated plans by the Commission to commence the issuance of uncollected permanent voters cards (PVCs) to their respective owners, noted that about 15 Registration Areas (RAs) have in excess of over 33,606 uncollected PVCs in the state.
“Local Government Areas which have more than 500 uncollected PVCs would do the issuances in the affected RAs (wards). There’re 105 wards in Bayelsa State.
“The collection of the PVCs would last for one month. It would begin on Monday, 11th, September through October 9th, 2023.
“Those with less than 500 uncollected PVCs would have theirs at their respective Local Government Areas’ INEC offices”, he emphasized.
Meanwhile, findings by The Tide, which monitored the briefing, shows that the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva’s Brass Local Government Area has a total of 5273 uncollected PVCs.
Okpoama, ward 4 (RA 4), the former Minister of State, Petroleum Resources’ immediate Registration Area (RA), has 4,236, while the ward of the incumbent Speaker of the State House of Assembly, the Rt. Hon.Abraham Ingobere’s Sangana, Ward 10 (RA 10), also of the Brass council area, has 1,037. This makes it a total of 5273 for the Brass Local Government Area.
Ogbia Local Government Area, which shares same Senatorial District (Bayelsa East Senatorial District) with Sylva and Speaker Ingobere’s Brass Local Government Area, on the other hand, has 533 uncollected PVCs.
Ogbia Town, Ward one (RA 01) has 533, while Otakeme, Ward 12 (RA 12), has a total of 545.
Nembe Local Government Area, the LGA of origin of the immediate past Deputy Governor of the state, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah (rtd), and the State Chairman, APC, Dr Dennis Otiotio, is also in the Eastern Senatorial District of the state.
INEC said, Nembe, Ogbolomabiri III (RA 03), has a total of 694 uncollected PVCs, making a total of 7,045 uncollected PVCs for the State’s Eastern Senatorial District.
The electoral umpire, however, did not state the number of uncollected PVCs in former Governor (now Senator Henry Seriake Dickson’s Sagbama Local Government Area of origin.
The Tide gathered that Bayelsa West Senatorial District Comprises Ekeremor and Sagbama Local Government Areas.
Ekeremor, which The Tide further learnt is the Local Government Area of origin of the trio of the present Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, State PDP Chairman, Chief Solomon Agwana, and former Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Peremobowei Ebebi, according to the data by INEC, has a total of 1,233 uncollected PVCs in ‘Oporomor one’ (RA 06)
The Tide reports that further findings through the INEC statistics showed that Kolokuma/Opokuma, the Local Government Area of origin of the incumbent Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has 519 uncollected PVCs in Kaiama, ward 4 (RA 04), while in the governor’s immediate Registration Area, the Sampou/Kalama, Ward 6 (RA 06), has 3,133 uncollected PVCs.
Other Wards with uncollected PVCs in the Governor’s Local Government Area are, Kaiama/Olobiri, Ward 5 (RA 05), which has 609.
The Tide reports that the duo of Southern Ijaw and Yenagoa Local Government Areas, both of Governor Diri’s Central Senatorial District, cumulatively have the largest number of uncollected PVCs.
INEC gave the figures of uncollected PVCs in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Olodiama II (RA 04), as 1,187.
The Tide futher learnt that Southern Ijaw is the Local Government Area of origin of the APC’s Deputy Governorship candidate for the State’s 2023 governorship polls, Mr Jushua McIver.
Similarly, of all the afore mentioned Local Government Areas of the state with uncollected PVCs, Yenagoa Local Government Area, headquarters of the State’s Central Senatorial District, which is allegedly a PDP stronghold, has the highest number of uncollected PVCs.
In Yenagoa, according to INEC, Atissa one (RA 01) has 2,721; Atissa three (RA 03), 1,444; Epie one (RA 04), 4,319; Epie two (RA 05), 5,501; and Epie three (RA 06), 5,895, making a cumulative total of 25,328 uncollected PVCs for the Bayelsa State Central Senatorial District alone.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
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The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has distributed relief materials to residents of Ayakoro Community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, following recurring flood incidents that have devastated livelihoods and displaced residents.
A statement signed and issued by the Director, Corporate Affairs of the NDDC, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, stated that the intervention, aimed at cushioning the impact of seasonal flooding, comes amid growing concerns over the loss of lives, farmlands and economic assets in the riverine community.
Representing the Managing Director of NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, at the event, the Director of Education, Health and Social Services, Dr. Patience Ezugu, said the initiative reflects the commission’s commitment to alleviating hardship and improving living conditions across the Niger Delta.
She noted that the donation of food items and essential household materials forms part of NDDC’s broader strategy to support vulnerable communities while advancing sustainable development in the region.
“As we distribute these materials to the people of Ayakoro, we reaffirm our resolve to empower communities and drive meaningful development across the Niger Delta”, she said.
Ogbuku, in a statement, reiterated that the commission’s mandate is rooted in addressing environmental degradation, pollution and other development challenges confronting the region.
He assured that NDDC would sustain interventions that deliver tangible benefits to affected communities.
In his remarks, the Acting Paramount Ruler of Ayakoro Kingdom, King Micah Itekesi, represented by a community leader, Pastor ThankGod Expenses, commended the commission for its timely response to the plight of flood victims.
Describing the intervention as unprecedented, he expressed gratitude to the NDDC leadership for the scale of assistance provided, noting that the support would go a long way in easing the suffering of residents.
He also assured that the relief materials would be distributed fairly among households in the community.
Speaking on the selection process, the programme consultant, Dr. Daniel George Smile, explained that Ayakoro was prioritised due to the severity of flood impact and the community’s fragile economic condition.
He added that assessments were ongoing in other affected areas for possible intervention.
The latest effort underscores NDDC’s continued focus on humanitarian support alongside its core infrastructure and development mandate in the Niger Delta.
The Commissioner for Health in Cross River State, Henry Ayuk, has said the deploent of drone technology has improved access to essential medicines in remote communities, strengthening healthcare delivery across previously underserved and hard-to-reach areas.
Speaking with The Tide’s source in Calabar, Ayuk said the government had leveraged drone technology to improve healthcare delivery and ensured equitable access statewide.
He explained that the innovation had expanded immunisation coverage and enabled efficient delivery of essential medicines and supplies to every nook and cranny of the state, including isolated and difficult terrains.
According to the Commissioner, the initiative, implemented in partnership with Zipline, is designed to serve more than 300 health facilities, especially those located in riverine and mountainous areas lacking reliable transportation access.
“The use of drones has significantly improved healthcare delivery in Cross River, enhancing efficiency and responsiveness in the distribution of medical supplies to health facilities across diverse and challenging terrains.
“Beyond faster deliveries to hard-to-reach areas, the system has reduced wastage and helped curb the circulation of counterfeit medicines, thereby strengthening the integrity and reliability of the state’s drug supply chain,” Ayuk stated.
He continued that the administration of Bassey Otu had also introduced far-reaching initiatives aimed at strengthening healthcare infrastructure, expanding access, and improving the overall quality of medical services across the state.
He highlighted ongoing upgrades and renovations of a out 100 Primary Healthcare centres across the state’s 18 local government areas, aimed at enhancing service delivery and improving access to basic healthcare services.
He added that the government had designated some health facilities to cater specifically to elderly persons, children, and pregnant women, ensuring vulnerable groups received focused and priority medical attention across the state.
According to him, several upgraded Primary Healthcare centres have been completed, while others are at advanced stages, reflecting steady progress in the government’s efforts to revitalise healthcare infrastructure and expand service coverage.
He noted that dedicated facilities for elderly persons above 65, children under five years, and pregnant women were already operational in three local government areas and would be replicated statewide.
On disease control, Ayuk said the government combined preventive and curative strategies, emphasising early detection, rapid response, and sustained public health interventions to minimise risks and effectively manage outbreaks across communities.
He emphasised that there had been a significant reduction in disease outbreaks due to increased focus on preventive measures, including public health education and awareness campaigns targeted at communities across the state.
He explained that authorities provided basic health education and maintained an effective surveillance system that ensured rapid response once cases were reported, helping to contain and mitigate the spread of diseases statewide.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-South has elected a new Zonal Executive Committee, following a successful congress held on Wednesday in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
The congress, which drew top party leaders, including the Senate President, Governors, lawmakers, and delegates from across the region, was conducted through a consensus arrangement, reinforcing the party’s commitment to unity and internal cohesion.
Proceedings commenced with a motion for the dissolution of the outgoing Zonal Executive Committee, moved by the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, and seconded by his Bayelsa State counterpart, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere, and was unanimously adopted.
Subsequently, a motion adopting consensus as the mode of electing new officers was moved by Senator Essien Williams of Cross River State and seconded by Senator Aniekan Bassey of Akwa Ibom North East, and was also unanimously adopted by all delegates.
At the end of the exercise, Chief Victor Giadom emerged as National Vice Chairman (South-South); Dr. Ita Udosen, Zonal Secretary; Barr. Neworld Safugha, Legal Adviser; Dr. Samuel Nwanosike, Publicity Secretary; Prince Urhoro Koyoyo, Youth Leader; Hon. Suobankuo Omoni, Women Leader; Hon. Prince Edward, Organising Secretary; and Prince Ayo Peter, who is to represent Persons with Disabilities.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, in his remarks, conveyed the goodwill of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and commended the South-South for its growing unity and political consolidation within the APC.
He noted that the region had witnessed remarkable transformation, moving from minimal APC presence to becoming a strong political bloc with increased alignment from governors and stakeholders.
Akpabio challenged party faithfuls to position the South-South as the highest vote-delivering region for the APC in the 2027 general elections, stressing that such a goal was both achievable and necessary.
Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, in his goodwill message, welcomed delegates to Asaba and described the congress as a demonstration of the party’s strength, unity, and readiness for future political engagements.
Oborevwori emphasized the need for sustained grassroots mobilization and urged party members to deepen internal cohesion, strengthen structures across all levels, and maintain strong connections with the people.
Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum and Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, also underscored the importance of unity, describing the adoption of consensus as a major step in reducing internal conflicts and fostering collective ownership within the party.
He noted that, for the first time in recent political history, the South-South was speaking with one voice, adding that the full attendance of governors at the congress demonstrated their shared commitment to the region’s progress.
Governors Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Bassey Otu (Cross River), Monday Okpebholo (Edo), and Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers) in their separate remarks, spoke in the same vein, stressing the importance of the zone aligning with the Government at the centre.
Earlier in his welcome address, Chief Victor Giadom thanked party leaders and stakeholders for their support during his tenure and highlighted the progress made by the APC in the region, including electoral victories and increased political alignment.
In his acceptance speech, Giadom, who was relelected, expressed optimism that the party would continue to expand its influence ahead of the 2027 elections and position itself for greater success.
The congress was also attended by members of the National and State Houses of Assembly, Ministers, other top government functionaries, party leaders and stakeholders from across the zone.
The event concluded with a renewed commitment by party leaders and members to strengthen unity, expand grassroots support, and consolidate the APC’s growing influence in the South-South region.
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