As the November 16, 2024, governorship election in Ondo State draws near, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has embarked on the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. This initiative, which began on Monday, is being carried out in 210 centers spread across the 18 local government areas of the state.
In a recent statement, Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, announced the launch of the CVR in a total of 397 centers across both Edo and Ondo states.
During this exercise, various categories of individuals are being attended to. These include new voters intending to register for the first time, those seeking to change their voting locations, and individuals who have lost or damaged their permanent voter cards (PVCs). The aim is to ensure that everyone eligible is captured in the electoral register ahead of the upcoming election.
In Akure, the capital city of Ondo State, the turnout at some of the registration centers has been relatively low. Some registrants who spoke with Channels Television expressed their frustrations about the registration process, describing it as slow and cumbersome.
One such individual, Adelola Adepoju, a business executive, shared his ordeal. “I’ve been here for over two hours now, but I’ve not registered due to poor network,” he lamented. “They should find a lasting solution to this network issue, or else people will be discouraged from coming for the exercise.”
Another registrant, Olajide Ajayi, echoed similar sentiments. “I came here yesterday and spent over an hour but could not succeed. I’m back again today, and I don’t know how long it will take. They should improve on their technology,” he said.
Despite these complaints, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo, Oluwatoyin Babalola, maintained that the exercise is proceeding smoothly across the state. She emphasized that some of the delays experienced during the registration process are beyond INEC’s control.
Babalola highlighted that there are still over 200,000 uncollected PVCs in the state and urged their owners to retrieve them promptly. She also advised intending registrants to visit the centers early and not to wait until the end of the exercise.
In summary, while the CVR exercise in Ondo State is a crucial step towards a successful governorship election, it has encountered some technical hitches that need addressing. The calls from registrants for improved technology and more efficient processes are a reminder of the importance of a seamless electoral process. As the exercise continues, it is hoped that these issues will be resolved to encourage greater participation and ensure that all eligible voters are duly registered.
