The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has undergone significant changes, with the redeployment of two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to different states and the appointment of a new spokesperson.
The commission announced the appointment of Sam Olumekun as the new National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC. He takes over as the spokesperson, succeeding Festus Okoye, whose tenure recently concluded.
In his first official statement, Olumekun revealed that INEC has resumed the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo states, in preparation for the November 11 Governorship Elections in those regions.
He stated, “In continuation of our preparations for the forthcoming off-cycle Governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi States, the Commission has approved the resumption of the collection of Permanent 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.”
This PVC collection exercise specifically covers the three states mentioned, and PVCs will be available for collection at all Local Government area offices in these states, with additional designated centers for uncollected PVCs.
The collection period will run from September 11th to October 9th, 2023, on weekdays (Monday to Friday) between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm.
Furthermore, Olumekun disclosed the redeployment of RECs as part of these changes. Obo Effanga, the former REC for Edo State, has been assigned to Bayelsa State, in anticipation of the upcoming off-cycle Governorship election.
Meanwhile, Professor Ayobami Salami has moved to Lagos from Ekiti State. These reassignments aim to address the vacancies created by the conclusion of the previous REC tenures.
Olumekun concluded by urging all political parties and candidates to conduct their campaigns peacefully and refrain from statements or actions that could incite unrest
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