A National Commissioner, Mr Sam Olugbadebo Olumekun has been appointed Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He replaces former National Commissioner, Barrister Festus Okoye, whose tenure expired recently.
The Commission also announced the resumption of collection of Permament Voters’ Cards (PVCs) for registered voters who could not collect their PVCs before the suspension of the exercise on 5th February 2023 ahead of the last General Election in three states of Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo states.
Offcycle governorship elections will hold in the three states on Saturday 11th November 2023.
Mr Olumekun, in a statement issued Tuesday, said the PVCs will be available for collection at all INEC Local Government area offices in the three States: eight in Bayelsa, 27 in Imo and 21 in Kogi.
“In addition, the Commission has created other designated centres with large number of uncollected PVCs. The details of all centres will be made available by the Resident Electoral Commissioners in the three States,” the statement said.
“The Commission has earmarked week days (Monday – Friday) from 9.00am to 3.00pm for the collection of PVCs for a period of four weeks from 11th September – 9th October 2023.
“Meanwhile, two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) have been redeployed to other States. The REC for Edo State, Mr. Obo Effanga, takes over in Bayelsa State in view of the forthcoming off-cycle Governorship election, while Professor Ayobami Salami moves to Lagos from Ekiti State. The two States are among those without RECs following the end of tenure of the last holders of the offices.
“The Commission once again enjoins all political parties and candidates to conduct themselves peacefully and to avoid utterances and actions capable of causing a breach of peace in their ongoing campaigns.”