A total of 52,225 Permanent Voter Cards remain uncollected in Bayelsa State. The Independent National Electoral Commission disclosed this at a stakeholders’ meeting in Yenagoa, the state capital, on Tuesday. The event was attended by electoral officials, political parties, security agencies an

A total of 52,225 Permanent Voter Cards remain uncollected in Bayelsa State.

The Independent National Electoral Commission disclosed this at a stakeholders’ meeting in Yenagoa, the state capital, on Tuesday.

The event was attended by electoral officials, political parties, security agencies and civil society organisations.

The commission and the police warned politicians against violence, hate speech and misinformation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Participants raised concerns about voter apathy and the challenges facing residents of riverine communities.

According to figures presented by the commission, Ekeremor Local Government Area has the highest number of uncollected PVCs at 12,023, followed by Sagbama with 10,080 and Southern Ijaw with 7,115. Yenagoa has 6,332, Brass 6,211, Kolokuma/Opokuma 3,712, Nembe 3,620 and Ogbia 3,132.

INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Bayelsa, Isah Ehimeakhe, urged eligible voters to collect their cards, warning that low participation could undermine the credibility of the electoral process.

He also called on political parties, traditional rulers, religious leaders and community organisations to step up voter education and mobilisation.

“The commission is concerned that 52,225 Permanent Voter Cards are still uncollected in Bayelsa State. We appeal to all eligible voters who have registered to make efforts to collect their cards so that they can exercise their constitutional right to vote in the 2027 general elections,” he said.

The REC noted that transportation costs and difficult terrain in riverine communities demanded concerted efforts from stakeholders, so that eligible voters would not be discouraged from collecting their cards.

“We recognise the peculiar challenges confronting residents of riverine communities, particularly transportation difficulties and the cost of accessing collection centres. We urge stakeholders and community leaders to work with the commission to sensitise eligible voters and encourage them to collect their PVCs,” he said.

A representative of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appealed to INEC to put practical measures in place to ease PVC collection for residents of remote communities.

“We appeal to INEC to look at the peculiar challenges facing our people in the riverine communities, where some residents have to spend considerable amounts on transportation just to collect their PVCs,” the party representative said.

“The commission should consider practical arrangements that will make the process easier for these voters and ensure that nobody is disenfranchised because of the cost or difficulty of travelling to collect a voter card.”

The PDP representative also asked for regular publication of voter registration and PVC collection statistics, so that political parties and community leaders can identify areas needing urgent intervention.

Beyond the PVC issue, Ehimeakhe urged political parties to avoid inflammatory statements, personal attacks and false information during campaigns.

“Political competition should be based on ideas, policies and programmes that will improve the lives of the people, not personal attacks or inflammatory statements,” he said.

He added that political differences should not trigger hostility or violence, and urged candidates and their supporters to conduct themselves responsibly throughout the electoral period.

“We urge political parties, candidates and their supporters to refrain from hate speech, misinformation and the spread of false information capable of creating tension among the people. Everyone has a responsibility to protect the peace and stability of Bayelsa State before, during and after the elections,” the REC said.

The Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, CP Ajao Saka Adewale, also cautioned politicians against actions that could threaten public peace.

He urged political actors to place national interest above personal ambition and to avoid inflammatory rhetoric, threats and conduct capable of provoking clashes between rival supporters.

He also called on parties to comply with electoral laws and cooperate with security agencies to prevent violence before, during and after the elections.

The meeting further called for better training of ad hoc election personnel, adequate protection of electoral materials, and stronger coordination between INEC and security agencies to reduce operational errors and security breaches.

Stressing the need for collaboration, Ehimeakhe said credible elections required the participation of all stakeholders.

“INEC cannot achieve credible elections alone. We need the cooperation of political parties, security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations and the media to ensure that voters are adequately informed and the electoral process is peaceful and credible,” he said.

The participation of women, young people and persons with disabilities also featured at the meeting. A representative of the National Council of Women Societies urged women to promote peaceful political participation and discourage violence in their communities.

Representatives of the Women Organised for Mentorship and Advocacy Network and the Do Foundation also pledged support for voter education and public sensitisation against electoral violence.

Meanwhile, INEC announced that its recruitment portal for prospective ad hoc election staff, which opened on September 18, will close at midnight on November 18, 2026.

The commission urged qualified applicants to apply through the official portal.

The REC also said campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections began on August 19, 2026, and will end at midnight on January 14, 2027.

The stakeholders urged Bayelsa residents to collect their PVCs, reject electoral violence and misinformation, and participate peacefully in the 2027 general elections.

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