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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ruled out fresh registration of voters who are yet to register for their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the November 16 governorship polls in Bayelsa and Kogi states.
National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, in a statement in Abuja yesterday disclosed that the decision was reached after a review of its level of preparedness for the conduct of the elections in both states.
“In view of the fact that the commission now conducts nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise and the tight schedule for the Bayelsa and Kogi governorship elections, INEC will not register new voters, transfer Voters Cards and reprint damaged or defaced PVCs,” Okoye stated.
Okoye who revealed that distribution of uncollected PVCs in both states will begin on September 2, 2019, said the exercise would be suspended on September 30 and afterwards a detailed breakdown of collected and uncollected PVCs for the states would be published.
He noted that the collection of PVCs would take place at the Registration Areas (RAs) and wards in each local government areas.
He explained that the total number of uncollected PVCs for Kogi State currently stands at 170,644, while that of Bayelsa State stands at 49,291.
“Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) 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 SMSs to the registered voters in both states that are yet to collect their PVCs and will display the list of registered voters that are yet to collect their PVCs at the commission’s state and local government offices and at other designated public places,” he added.
Okoye also notified political parties that are yet to submit a notice of intention that the period within which notice of intention to conduct primaries for the election of candidates has elapsed and that INEC would no longer entertain notice of intention for party primaries would be entertained.
He advised political parties to strictly adhere to the revised timetable and schedule of activities for the elections, while warning that the commission would not entertain extension or late submission of candidates’ lists.