The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned people without Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to stay away from polling stations during the November 16 Ondo State gubernatorial election.
The INEC National Commissioner who oversees Ondo, Ogun and Osun States, Professor Kunle Ajayi, issued the warning on Tuesday in Akure when he handed over soft copies of electoral rolls to political parties.
Mr. Ajayi pledged the readiness and determination of the commission to conduct free, fair, credible and inclusive elections in the state, saying that 2,053,006 voters were registered.
” It is important to reiterate that the Commission will start distributing newly printed permanent voter cards and uncollected PVC from the previous CVR exercise from Thursday.
“I urge representatives of all political parties to mobilize their supporters to collect PVC.
“Civil society organizations and the media here must also use a variety of powerful outlets and platforms to encourage the public, registrants and voters to collect PVCs en masse.
“Because without PVC, no one can vote,” he said.
Mr Ajay said collection of PVC would not be carried out by agents as it was against the law.
He said anyone found in possession of multiple PVCs would be subject to the full extent of the law.
He therefore called on Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), CSOs and organizations focused on persons with disabilities to encourage all persons with disabilities to come forward and collect PVC.
Mr. Ajayi said the commission is adequately providing assistive devices to ensure a seamless voting experience for all persons with disabilities in the upcoming elections.
Also speaking, the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Oluwatoyin Babalola, said the issuance and presentation of the voter list was extremely important and a statutory measure to safeguard the credibility and transparency of the electoral process. .
Babalola said the presentation was a strong reminder that the future of Ondo State is in the hands of its people.
“I call on all stakeholders to remain vigilant and committed to protecting the integrity of the process.”
“I therefore use this medium to encourage the voters of Ondo State to vote freely with confidence that their choices will be respected and their votes will count,” Babalola said. .
Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Mr. Ade Adetihin, has commended INEC for timely submission of the voter list.
He said this would allow political parties to get back on the ground, mobilize their supporters and educate them to turn out en masse on election day.
He said, “Now, it is our duty as political parties to return to all 3,936 polling stations, gather votes (of voters), and carry out election activities.”
