The Independent National Electoral Commission has disclosed that it had recorded a total of 2,053,061 registered voters ahead of the 16 November governorship election in Ondo State.
The commission also stated that it had embarked on massive voter education across the state, educating and engaging citizens on their rights and responsibilities as voters.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner of the INEC in the state, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, stated this at the state headquarters of the commission in Akure, the state capital, on Friday at a meeting with members of all political parties in the state.
Babalola explained that the purpose of the meeting was to inform the stakeholders of all political parties in the state on the level of preparedness for the election and to listen to the concerns and ideas of the political parties for a successful election.
Giving the figures, the REC mentioned that at present, a total of 58,708 new voters were registered, 3,132 voters transferred their registration into Ondo State while 123 voters transferred their registration out of the state, leaving the harmonised total number of new registered voters with the old registered voters to 2,053,061.
She said, “As we approach this significant election, it is important to inform you of our level of preparedness for the election to ensure a seamless electoral process. It is also of utmost importance to listen to political parties, know your concerns, and deliberate and harmonized ideas for a successful election.
“Following the successful conclusion of the Continuous Voters Registration exercise. At the end of the exercise, 58,708 new voters were registered. In addition, 3,132 voters transferred their registration into Ondo State while 123 voters transferred their registration out of Ondo State. The harmonized total no. of new registered voters with the old registered voters is now 2,053,061.
“It is also pertinent to note that we have embarked on a massive voter education across the state, educating and engaging citizens on their rights and responsibilities as voters; we have engaged the youth, women and persons with disability”.
The INEC boss added that the commission is currently working towards the collection of Permanent Voters Card of the registered voters in the state noting that the detailed arrangements will be made available soon. She urged all stakeholders to mobilise their registered supporters to collect their PVCs.
She added, “The commission is currently working on the schedule for the collection of the PVCs in the state. Very soon the detailed arrangement for the collection of PVCs for all categories of voters from the CVR exercise in the state will be made available.
“As usual your cooperation is much needed as the commission rolls out the distribution and collection of the PVCs at all the Registration Areas where the last CVR exercise took place to ensure a seamless process and secured environment for the Commission’s staff and the registrants.
“As political parties, it is expected that you will mobilize your supporters that registered during the CVR to collect their PVCs during the period for collection. Also, those who registered earlier but did not collect their PVCs have another opportunity to do so.
“On this note, I urge all political parties present here to collaborate with the commission in the area of information sharing, voter education, voter mobilization and sensitisation as well as PVCs distribution exercise, as we prepare for the successful conduct of the governorship election.”
