More than 241,715 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have yet to be collected by eligible voters in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa states, just two weeks before the October 9, 2023, deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The cards are crucial for the November 11 off-cycle governorship elections in these states.
The breakdown of uncollected PVCs is as follows: 107,715 in Kogi, approximately 134,000 in Imo, and no specific figure available for Bayelsa.
INEC has made it clear that there will be no extension of the PVC collection deadline, urging registered voters not to wait until the last minute to retrieve their cards.
The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, and the Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Gabriel Longpet, emphasized that the October 9 deadline is final. They advised voters to collect their PVCs promptly to avoid unnecessary pressure on state offices as the deadline approaches.
The governorship elections in these three states are scheduled for November 11, with 18 political parties fielding candidates.
In June, INEC approved the final list of candidates for these elections, which was published on its website and in state and local government offices. The list showed that 18 political parties are participating in Kogi, 17 in Imo, and 16 in Bayelsa.
While the exact number of uncollected PVCs in Bayelsa is not specified, INEC has taken measures such as sending bulk SMS messages to the owners of uncollected PVCs in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi to encourage collection.
Despite concerns about the high number of unclaimed voter cards, political parties in these states are actively engaging in voter sensitization and awareness campaigns, emphasizing the importance of collecting PVCs and participating in the electoral process.
In Imo State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expressed concerns over the large number of uncollected PVCs, attributing it to dissatisfaction with the conduct of previous elections. The party believes that Imo residents will express their discontent through their votes in the upcoming election.
The Labour Party also expressed concern about the uncollected PVCs, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State conducted extensive voter education and awareness campaigns to encourage PVC collection.
The Young Progressives Party (YPP) governorship candidate’s campaign council in Imo State emphasized the importance of PVCs for eligible voters to exercise their rights.
In Bayelsa, the INEC office did not provide a specific figure for uncollected PVCs but emphasized that they were remnants from previous exercises. The commission noted that the PVCs were for those who registered newly, those who couldn’t collect their PVCs after transferring them, and those who lost their voter cards.
In conclusion, the timely collection of PVCs is essential for the upcoming governorship elections in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa states. INEC has set a strict deadline, and political parties and stakeholders are actively engaged in encouraging eligible voters to collect their cards and participate in the electoral process.