2023 Election : INEC engages stakeholders on CVR, other activities in Oyo
From Ogundele Olanrewaju
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in Oyo State, Dr Mutiu Agboke, says 188,789 eligible Nigerians have registered in the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) in the state.
Agboke stated this on Thursday while engaging relevant stakeholders in Oyo State, on the ongoing CVR and other activities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was held at the commission’ state headquarters, Agodi Ibadan.
Oyo REC explained that though 212,727 registrants visited the commission’s website during this fourth quarter of the exercise which begun on April 11 and expected to end on June 30, but only the 188,789 registrants completed the exercise.
He intimated the stakeholders that
the CVR online registration would be suspended by May 30, to enable the online registrants to complete their registration physically at designated centres “before the end of the exercise on June 30.
“This will also enable the commission to clean up the registration data, print the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and compile the register ahead of the 2023 general election.”
He urged the stakeholders to assist the commission in sensitising the general public on the need to register for PVCs, ahead of the forthcoming general election.
He further admonished Nigerians not to get involved in double registration, “as it will amount to invalid registration.
“Avoid all forms of vote buying/ selling during elections as the same attracts penalties,” he warned.
Speaking on the uncollected PVCs, Agboke announced that the commission in the state has about 756,995 PVCs in its custody.
“This is in addition to the recently printed PVCs for the first and second quarters of the CVR.
“This large number might be due to some owners relocated to other states or might have being as a result of death as the case may be.
“However, the commission is not resting on its oars to ensure that the number gets reduced before the commencement of the forthcoming general election.
Agboke appreciated the presence of the stakeholders such as members of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee(IPAC) Civil Society Organisations, Youth Organisations, National Orientation Agency, heads of security agencies, religious leaders, among others.
He maintained that the engagement was to consolidate on what the commission has been doing.
He said such meeting would engendering confidence in the eyes of the stakeholders and also make them comfortable with their votes during elections.
Chairman of IPAC in Oyo State, Mr Dare Ojo assured INEC that the IPAC and other relevant stakeholders in the state would continue to support all activities of the commission gear toward successful electoral processes(NAN)
