The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) took a significant step on Monday by publishing comprehensive information detailing the status of collected and uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) at the polling unit level in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states. This release comes in preparation for the upcoming off-cycle governorship elections scheduled for Saturday, November 11, 2023.
In line with previous electoral procedures, including the 2023 General Election, INEC aims to provide transparency by offering a complete breakdown of PVC status in the three states. This information encompasses the distribution of polling units across Local Government Areas, Registration Areas/Wards, polling unit names, code numbers, the count of registered voters, and the number of PVCs that have been collected, as well as those that remain uncollected.
Of particular note, the released data also highlights the names and locations of two polling units in Bayelsa State and 38 in Imo State with no registered voters.
Here’s a breakdown for the three states: In Bayelsa State, there are 1,056,862 registered voters, out of which 1,017,613 have successfully collected their PVCs, while 39,249 PVCs remain uncollected. In Imo State, the registered voter count stands at 2,419,922, with 2,318,919 individuals having obtained their PVCs, and 101,003 PVCs still uncollected. In Kogi State, there are 1,932,654 registered voters, of which 1,833,160 have collected their PVCs, while 99,494 PVCs are yet to be collected.
Furthermore, INEC made an important clarification, urging all stakeholders to recognize that any vote cast in a polling unit beyond the number of collected PVCs constitutes over voting, which is against electoral rules. Additionally, the number of PVCs collected will be used as the basis for applying the margin of lead principle in the upcoming elections. This move by INEC underscores its commitment to ensuring fair and transparent electoral processes in these three states.
