The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC Oyo State has announced the extension of the Collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in all the 351 Registration Areas/ Ward Collation Centers of INEC 33 Local Government Area Offices, as part of preparations towards the forthcoming General Election in the state.
In a statement, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Dr. Adeniran Tella, noted that the exercise which had commenced on Friday 6th January 2023 had now been extended by eight days, saying that the initial ending date of Sunday 15th January 2023 at the Registration Area/Ward Collation Centers would continue until Sunday 22nd January 2023.
Dr. Tella stated further that the exercise is for all eligible valid registrants, those that applied for replacement of lost, damage or defaced PVCs and those that registered prior to the 2019 General Election and are yet to collect their cards.
He mentioned that the exercise was from 9 am to 3 pm daily Saturdays and Sundays inclusive.
The REC informed that collection of PVCs would revert to all the 33 INEC Local Government Area Offices from Monday 23rd January and end on Sunday 29th January 2023 with the same timing as mentioned above.
He, however, implored the electorate to make good use of the exercise as collection would not be by proxy adding that, the Commission had also received another batch of newly printed PVCs in the State.
The newly deployed Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Osun State, Doctor Mutiu Agboke has paid a familiarization visit to major security formations in the state, with an appeal to them for synergy to secure the property of the commission.
The REC who visited the Police State Headquarters of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC and the Directorate of State Security all in Osogbo, said adequate security was key to providing an enabling environment for Nigerians to exercise their franchise in the next year’s general election.
Doctor Agboke told his hosts that with the introduction of technology into the Nigeria election management system, outcomes of elections would reflect the wish and aspirations of the people.
“It’s just about 100 days to the general election. I want to assure you that the commission is fully prepared. The recent attacks in Osun and Ogun States would not prevent the commission from organising a free, fair, credible election.”
“I urge all politicians to go to the people with good manifestoes. The era of election rigging is gone for good. The people’s vote is the only determinant of who wins the election. Our politicians should also steer clear of vote buying because it’s criminal. We all have roles to play in bringing sanity into our political space”.
He said solicited effective collaboration between the security agencies and INEC to ensure that hoodlums were not allowed to derail Nigeria’s democratic adventure.
Dr Agboke charged the security outfits to confront the challenge of vote buying by arresting its perpetrators during the election.
In a response, Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mr Faleye Olaleye expressed concern over the recent attack on the INEC office in Ede South Local Government and charged the commission to be proactive in protecting its facilities.
Mr Olayeye noted that from the series of calculated attacks on INEC facilities, there existed a fifth columnist who did not want the forthcoming election to hold, hence the need to join hands to defeat them.
The Police Commissioner assured INEC that the Inspector General had given marching orders for the compulsory protection of INEC materials and personnel nationwide.
It was the same message of assurance at the headquarters of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC at Oke Ayepe in Osogbo, where the state commandant, Mr Agboola Sunday said the service remains committed to its mandate of protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure.
My Sunday said the NSCDC was preparing for the next year’s election.
“If you notice some people in black uniform while you were coming to this office, they are our men. We are already training them for the election. We have a directive from above to do so. So we are preparing”.
Similarly, at the office of the Department of State Security, DSS, the Osun State Director, Mr Bankole Alade assured that the service would not rest on its oars to ensure the security of Nigerians before, during and after the election.
Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Ogun State has decried the low turnout of eligible voters in the voter registration in Ogun State compared to other state in the South West.
The new Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Ogun state, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje who made this known at a news briefing in Abeokuta, noted that Ogun State ranked last among the South West states by the population.
Mr. Agbaje called on all eligible voters in Ogun State to seize the opportunity provided by the Continuous Voters Registration, CVR, to register as voters to empower them exercise their franchise in the 2023 general elections.
He called on all other stakeholders to step up their ongoing efforts at sensitising the people on the importance of the exercise.
Mr. Agbaje however cautioned violators of the law guiding the exercise, especially those engaging in multiple registration warning that they would be identified and prosecuted accordingly.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Oyo state will from Friday 24th September, 2021 display the register of new voters in the thirty-three local government areas of the state.
The new voters were those who registered in the just concluded first phase of the 2021 Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, in Oyo state.
The state’s INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Mr. Mutiu Agboke, while addressing newsmen in Ibadan, said the display of the details of the new voters was to aid the identification and removal of ineligible registrants from the register.
Mr. Agboke stated that after the display of the new voters register which will end on the thirtieth of the month, the second phase was expected to commence on the fourth of next month till twentieth of December, 2021.
The Oyo State REC explained that over nineteen thousand people completed the both Online and Physical registration of the Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, during the first quarter.
Mr. Agboke noted that the electoral body have embarked on various awareness programmes at encouraging eligible members of the public to register.
He appealed to major stakeholders to continue to assist INEC in mobilizing the electorate to register during the second phase.
Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, resident electoral Commissioner in Oyo State, Mr. Mutiu Agboke says the commission cannot thrive without the support of Security agencies, especially Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.
Mr. Agboke stated this when he paid a courtesy visit to the NSCDC Headquarters, Agodi Gate, Ibadan to seek for more support from the corps.
The REC stated further that as INEC is set for continuation of voters’ registration in the country and Oyo State in particular, the commission needs their support as their organisation was outstanding during the conduct of the 2019 general election.
Responding, the Oyo State Commandant of NSCDC in Oyo Command, Mr. Michael Adaralewa appreciated the REC’s visit and assured him of the command readiness to work with INEC at all time.
Mr. Adaralewa said the corps’ mandate was to maintain peace and order in the country hence the need for collaboration among security agencies to collectively fight against insecurity.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Delta State says over a hundred thousand accounts have been registered online by eligible persons in the state, 72 hours into the commencement of ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
The State Resident Electoral Commission Mr. Monday Udoh-Tom, made this know at a Two-Day Workshop for Electoral Officers in the 25 Local Government Areas across the state.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner, INEC, in Oyo State Mr. Mutiu Agboke has called on political parties to imbibe the culture of the political system so as to achieve a credible electoral result.
He made the call during a meeting with the new executive members of Inter party Advisory Council, IPAC, Oyo State Chapter held at the state INEC headquarter in Ibadan.
Mr. Agboke, who stressed that constant engagement with relevant stakeholders was key to electoral success, noted that the success of the proposed pruning of the numbers of political parties in Nigeria to eighteen was hinged on the cooperation of political actors.
In a remark, The State IPAC Chairman, Otunba Fagbemi Adegbenro, commended the existing robust relationship between the Council and the INEC in Oyo state, and solicited the need for its sustainability and prompt interface with the commission on new electoral updates.
The new Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti state, Dr. Tella Rahman- Adeniran has called for the cooperation of sister agencies in the electoral process in the state in order to have a successful tenure.
He made the call during a courtesy visit to the state Coordinator of NYSC in Ekiti, Mrs. Mary Chikezie, Director of State Security Service, Mr. Musa Halilu, FRSC sector commander, Mrs Elizabeth Akinlade and the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti state command, Mr. Tunde Mobayo.
Dr. Adeniran noted that the support of the agencies at ensuring a successful election could not be over-emphasized, saying their collaboration was needed for INEC in Ekiti state to record tremendous achievements under his watch.
The new Resident Electoral Commissioner however assured the people of the state that their votes would count anytime there is election.
In their responses, the State Co-ordinator of NYSC, Mrs. Mary Chikezie, the Director of State Security Service, Mr. Musa Halilu, FRSC, Mrs Elizabeth Akinlade and the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti state command, Mr. Tunde Mobayo promised to build on the existing relationship between their agencies and INEC.
