In preparation for the upcoming off-cycle governorship election in Ondo State next month, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will present the official register of voters to political parties fielding candidates on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.
This was disclosed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, during a press briefing in Akure, the Ondo State capital. She noted that the presentation is in line with Section 10(4) of the 2022 Electoral Act, which mandates INEC to provide the current certified voter register to all political parties participating in the election.
“The register of voters is a crucial document that ensures electoral credibility, containing details of all eligible voters for the upcoming election. It’s the foundation of transparency and fairness, allowing every eligible voter to exercise their civic rights,” Babalola said.
The presentation will take place at the INEC Conference Room in Akure, starting at 9:00 a.m. She encouraged political parties to use this opportunity to enhance voter education and engage with the electorate effectively.
Furthermore, Babalola announced that the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) across the state will begin on October 17, 2024. The REC emphasized the importance of timely PVC collection, stating that this step will ensure a smooth, credible, and inclusive election process.
“We have registered 58,708 new voters and processed 3,132 transfers into and within Ondo State, with a harmonized total of 2,053,061 registered voters. PVC distribution will begin at the Registration Area (RA) level from October 17 to 21, and continue at Local Government Areas from October 23 to 29, 2024,” she explained.
Babalola urged registered voters, especially new registrants, to collect their PVCs at designated centers across all 203 Registration Areas within the state’s 18 local government areas. She reiterated INEC’s commitment to ensuring an accessible and transparent PVC collection process, which is expected to boost voter participation.
In preparation for the election, the REC also disclosed plans for training security personnel and Ad hoc staff. A total of 11,799 security personnel will take an oath of neutrality, while 17,705 Ad hoc staff will be trained to facilitate the election process.
