Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, Barrister Mutiu Agboke is seeking the assistance of traditional rulers and other critical stakeholders in the polity to sensitize voters to collect the over 700,000 Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVC) awaiting collection at the state office of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Barrister Agboke made the call during the visit made to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Senator Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II by him and his management team at the Alarere residence of the monarch.
Using the occasion to present the Olubadan with the “Online Voter Registration Steps” poster, the REC said the uncollected PVCs were enough to make somebody the state governor, noting that the total number of votes scored by the two governorship candidates that scored the highest votes in 2019 governorship election was not up to 700,000 votes.
He said the purpose of the visit was to rejoice with Oba Balogun for ascending the throne of his forefathers and to solicit his assistance and cooperation as a respected voice in the community on the need for residents’ active participation in electoral activities.
Aside from the collection of PVC by the residents, the REC also wanted the monarch to help appeal to the various political parties to play the game according to the rules of engagement, saying, ”INEC is doing everything possible to ensure hitch-free elections, but, we need the cooperation of the political parties by adhering to the rules”.
“When the law says no to vote-buying, it is not INEC that goes about with money at the polling centres, the political parties are the ones. We started preparations for the next elections immediately after the 2019 elections and the results of our preparations manifested in the successful conduct of elections in Edo, Kogi, Bayelsa and Anambra States”.
“In addition, we had other bye-elections that were successfully conducted and we are out again to ensure that the 2023 elections are without hiccups of any form, but, we can only achieve this with the support and cooperation of all the stakeholders which formed part of our visit here, Kabiyesi”, the REC stated.
Mr Agboke also told Oba Balogun that the commission would on Monday, next week begin the fourth phase of the Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, which he asked the monarch to help appeal to the residents to take the advantage of by participating in the exercise.
The Olubadan, who in his response assured the REC of the palace’s support for the commission’s programmes urged for enough sensitization of the general populace, asking the commission to be conscious of the political awareness level of the residents.
The monarch equally appealed to both the politicians and the electorate to work towards making Nigeria great by following the political rule, adding, “There’s nothing special about the so-called advanced societies that makes them better than we blacks except that they do things right”.
“Let’s fully participate in all the pre-electoral activities and vote peacefully during elections. Let us collaborate with ourselves and since INEC is ready, we as citizens too should be ready. I appeal to all, let’s see to the greatness of this country by doing things right”, Olubadan added.
Ridwan Fasasi
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