By Damilola Origbemisuyi
The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Ondo State, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, has disclosed that 2,053,061 are the registered voters in the state ahead of the November 16 governorship election.
She disclosed this during a stakeholder meeting with members of all political parties in the state held at the headquarters of Independent National Electoral Commission in Akure, the state capital.
Babalola explained that the purpose of the meeting was to inform the stakeholders of all political parties in the state their level of preparedness for the election and to listen to the concerns and ideas of all political parties for a successful election.
In her remark, the REC revealed that after the conclusion of the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise, 58,708 new voters were registered, 3,132 voters transferred their registration into Ondo State while 123 voters transferred their registration out of Ondo State leaving the harmonized total number of new registered voters with the old registered voters to 2,053,061.
She also noted that the commission has embarked on massive voters education across the State, educating and engaging citizens on their rights and responsibilities as voters and that such education engaged the youth, women and persons with disability.
She said, “As we approach this significant election, it is important to intimate you with 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, deliberate and harmonized ideas for a successful election.
“Following the successful conclusion of the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) 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 number of new registered voters with the old registered voters is now 2,053,061.
“It is 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 REC further 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 soon be made available.
She urged all stakeholders to mobilize their registered supporters to collect their PVC.
“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, voters education, voter mobilization and sensitization as well as PVCs distribution exercise, as we prepare for the successful conduct of the Governorship Election”.
