Home / News / Local / Bayelsa guber poll: INEC raises alarm over fake PVCs in circulation; as candidates sign Peace Accord
Professor Mahmud Yakubu, INEC National Chairman

Bayelsa guber poll: INEC raises alarm over fake PVCs in circulation; as candidates sign Peace Accord

Professor Mahmud Yakubu, INEC National Chairman
Professor Mahmud Yakubu, INEC National Chairman

NEDU MARK, Yenagoa

Barely 24 days to the December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa state, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Baritor Kpagih, has raised alarm over fake Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in circulation in the state.

The commission also ruled out the option of manual accreditation, emphasising that only genuine PVCs duly verified by the Commission’s smart card readers would be allowed for voting.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner spoke in Yenagoa during the official signing of the Peace Accord organized by INEC and United Nations Development Programmes (UNDP) with the 20 political parties’ candidates for the December 5 governorship polls.

Kpagha who warned that anybody caught with such cards would be arrested and face the dire consequences according to the law, further explained that peace accord was basically to ensure total peace before, during and after the forthcoming polls in the state.

Incumbent Governor Seriake Dickson of the PDP, Chief Timipre Sylva of the APC and 18 other candidates were present at the ceremony.

The INEC boss insisted that the December 5 election would be conducted based on the guidelines recently used for the 2015 general elections, including the use of the smart card readers for accreditation.

“Information available to the Commission suggests that, a number of fake permanent voter cards are circulating in the state, warned holders of such cards of the dire consequences awaiting them, including arrest when caught”

Speaking shortly after the peace accord, Governor Seriake Dickson reiterated his call on the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and law enforcement agencies to take decisive action against electoral offenders.

Dickson who urged security agencies to always live up to their responsibility, noted that a situation where appropriate actions are not taken on reported cases of violence and other electoral malpractices would encourage a culture of impunity that negatively affect the outcome of elections.

The governor restated that his administration and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would continue to maintain a non-violent approach in its campaigns, as they go round the state to mobilise Bayelsans to support the Dickson/Jonah re-election bid.

“But for this peace process that we have all endorsed to be effectual, all of us have roles to play. Security agencies and INEC who are doing their best also have a role to play clearly. Where there are reported infractions irrespective of the political affiliation of the offender, decisive steps must be taken, so that we don’t breed a culture of impunity, because that is what results into breakdown of law and order,” Dickson said.

Also speaking, APC governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva pledged to maintain peace as the parties go to the poll.

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