Police operatives in Rivers and other security agencies have commenced investigation into how thousands of Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs loaded in sacks got inside a drainage system in Rumuodara axis of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

Residents of Apa-Ogwu Estate in Rumuodara community were alarmed at the discovery of about 10,000 of Permanent Voters Cards, (PVCs) abandoned in a drainage on Wednesday.

The abandoned PVCs were discovered while the residents were clearing the debris from the drainage.

A resident of the Estate, Samuel Osondu, confirmed to a Port Harcourt based radio station that the PVCs were found on Wednesday morning during the cleaning of the Estate’s drainage.

He said on close examination, some of the names of the cards indicate people likely to be from registration of areas such as Iriebe and Rumuokoro, all under the Obio-Akpor Local Government Area.

According to him, the PVCs where stuffed in sacks and abandoned under culvert inside the drainage.

Osundu also told the radio station that immediately information about the discovery of mysterious PVCs leaked in a viral video, some persons who claimed to be Staff of Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area came to area to pick them up.

He claimed the local government officials emptied the PVCs into into baskets before taking them away.

However, top officials of Obia-Akpor Council who pleaded anonymity because of the issue ” a sensitive” claimed they did not know about the PVCS found in a drainage.

They also said nobody from the Council was ordered to evacuate Cards from the drainage scene.

However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed that it has reported the incident as captured in the viral video pushed out by those who discovered the PVCs to security agencies.

In a press statement signed by Mr. Richter Alabraba, its Administrative Secretary in Rivers, INEC said the incident as captured in the viral video has been reported to the Nigeria Police and other security agencies for investigation and further action.

He assured that the outcome of the investigation will also be made public once concluded.

INEC assures that the Commission will continue to work with the security agencies and well-meaning Nigerians to preserve the integrity of the Electoral processes.