As the country prepares for the February and March 2019 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Delta State has declared that more than two million persons were registered in the state, but about 465,000 Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) were yet to be collected.

INEC’s Acting Administrative Secretary in Delta State, Mr Felix Anabor, disclosed this in Asaba the state capital during a meeting with the governorship candidates of the different parties, party chairmen and security agencies.

He announced that INEC would make public the final list of qualified candidates for the presidential and governorship elections on January 17 and 31 respectively.

Meanwhile, 49 political parties would participate in the governorship elections in the state.

The electoral umpire also assured all the contestants of a level playing field before, during and after the general elections, adding: “Our goal is to conduct free, fair, credible and conclusive elections.

“No matter the good plans you stakeholders have for the state, rancour can manifest in one way or the other. That is why this kind of meeting is imperative especially as general elections is just a few weeks away.”

At the meeting, chairmen of the political parties and their governorship candidates signed a peace accord.