Kogi, Bayelsa Primaries: September 5 Deadline Sacrosanct –INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has
reminded political parties fielding candidates for the November 16
governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi States that no
adjustment will be made to the September 5 deadline for conclusion
of party primaries and resolution of disputes arising therefrom, as
it urges voters in the two states to collect the permanent voters
cards, PVCs.

It also enjoined parties to comply with deadline for the
submission of list of candidates and personal data, fixed for
September 9, at the INEC headquarters.

Rising from its meeting yesterday in Abuja where it reviewed
preparation for the two out of term elections, the commission
directed the Resident Electoral Commissioners in the two states to
organize stakeholders meetings between 26 and 30 August to properly
sensitize states and local government of the various parties on
coming polls.

Putting the number of uncollected PVCs for Kogi and Bayelsa
respectively at 170,644 and 49, 291, the commission directed those
who are yet to collect their to visit the various local council
registration areas (RACs), promising to send bulk SMS messages to
those who have not collected the PVCs.

According to Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and chairman of
Information and Voter Education, INEC trained distribution officers
will soon commence distribution of the PVCs to local government
areas and RACs. He added that collection of PVCs will commence from
September 2nd- 30th when it will stop.

“There will be two teams of Distribution Officers per Local
Government Area and the officers will rotate the distribution of
the PVCs in the Registration Areas (RA) or from Community to
Community based on a schedule agreed upon by the Resident Electoral
Commissioner and the stakeholders.

“The Commission appeals to all registered voters who are yet to
collect their PVCs to avail themselves of the opportunity to do so
during this window to enable them vote at the elections as it does
not intend to entertain any extensions due to the tight statutory
timelines that it is bound to adhere to” he said.

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