INEC: 867,000 to vote in Bayelsa governorship poll

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says a total of 867,088 people are expected to vote in the Bayelsa state governorship election.

May Agbamuche-Mbu, INEC national commissioner in charge of Bayelsa, Edo and Rivers states, disclosed this on Monday when the voter register was released.

Forty-five governorship candidates are contesting the election holding on November 16.

While presenting the copies of the register to political parties, Agbamuche-Mbu said the document lists voters according to their polling unit, registration area and local government area.

“This is to enable eligible voters to check their details and know the location of their polling units,” NAN quoted her as saying.

On appointment of party agents, the commissioner enjoined all political parties to submit names of their agents not later than 14 days before the election.

She said INEC will not extend the deadline for submission of the names.

Iro Gambo, INEC’s director of voter registry, said while 923, 182 voters were registered in Bayelsa, only 867,088 voters collected their permanent voter cards (PVCs).

Represented by Paul Ayaeze, deputy director of voter registry, Gambo said the PVCs were made available for collection in all the local government areas in the state between April 2017 and August 2018.

“In all, the number of uncollected PVCs are 33, 974,” the director said.

Monday Udoh, INEC’s resident electoral commissioner in Bayelsa, said the commission was ready to conduct a free, fair and credible election, and enjoined all parties to refrain from violence.