The Independent National Electoral Commission says it would begin the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards to registrants from December 12 to January 22, 2023.

Resident Electoral Commissioner Emmanuel Hart stated during a stakeholders’ meeting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa. 

He said the distribution was meant for new registrants, transfers, replacements and for those who wanted to update and make corrections on their voter cards.

Represented by the Administrative Secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Okop Umobong, Mr Hart stated that the distribution would take place at the INEC Electoral Offices in Bayelsa local government areas.

He added that from January 6, 2023, to January 15, the distribution would be devolved at the various wards and later back to the LGAs offices from January 16, 2023 to January 22, 2023.

The REC pointed out that the commission’s staff had been trained on procedures that would lead to a smooth, seamless and hitch-free exercise, adding that Help Desk Officers would be positioned at the local offices to assist individuals with challenges.

He noted that the number of registered voters in Bayelsa was 1,250,102 while the number of collected voters’ cards was more than 960,000.

He said the percentage of collection was poor.

The REC urged political parties to sensitise their members and the electorate to the need to collect their voters cards to avoid being disenfranchised in the coming elections.

Mr Hart reminded political parties to submit their party agents list in accordance with the timelines on or December 30, 2023 for Presidential and National Assembly Elections and January 6, 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 PVCs have been sorted and counted by our Local Government Area staff and will be taken to the various INEC Electoral Offices in readiness for collection by the owners.

“The collection will be every day from 9:00 a.m  to 3.00 p.m. including Saturdays and Sundays,” he stated. 

(NAN)