651,551 PVCs Still Uncollected In Ogun-INEC...Says Relocation Of Students Mostly Responsible

There are still Six Hundred and Fifty-one Thousand, Five Hundred and Fifty-One (651,551) Permanent Voter Cards yet to be collected by registered voters in Ogun State who are mostly students of tertiary Institutions who relocated after their studies , the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has revealed, ahead of the 2023 general election  in Nigeria

The new Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr.Niyi Ijalaye Esq. who disclosed this on Wednesday during a meeting with leaders of political parties at the INEC State Office in Abeokuta, however urged the affected voters to collect their cards at various Local Government Areas where they registered between 2011 and 2018, cautioning them  against  double registration  

Ijalaye expressed the concern of the electoral agency over apathy in the state which according to him, is declining in each election year 

"I will like to appeal to leaders of political parties to mobilize their followers and other eligible citizens to first take advantage of the ongoing Continous Voters Registration CVR exercise to register as voters in order to empower them to exercise their civic responsibilities and also come out and exercise their franchise in the 2023 General Election and other future elections", he appealed

The Resident Commissioner stressed the need for political parties to  always maintain internal democracy to ensure seamless conduct of Congresses and primaries saying" , Political Parties need to take practical steps at putting an end to an era where it is the Judiciary that determines who wins election"

He urged political parties to always explore Alternative Dispute Resolution techniques and avoid the usual litigations

On the just ended 3rd quarter of CVR exercise, Ijalaye expressed satisfaction with Eighty Five Thousand, Six Hundred (85,600) newly registered voters, adding that the number has put the state at par with other states within the South West Nigeria  unlike in the previous exercise during which only 22,167 were registered

He disclosed that the register of the new voters captured during the recently concluded CVR would be displayed as from Monday next week and end 1st of April at INEC offices in the 20 Local Governments in the state for claims and objections from the public against those registered if they are below 18years of age or foreigners or might have died before then 

Ijalaye commended the unalloyed support of the media for the agency, assuring of continous synergy in the promotion of activities of INEC in the state 

Some of the leaders at the meeting included  State Vice Chairman of All Progressives Congress APC, Fohunola Abiola, State Chairman of New Nigeria People's Party NNPP, Comrade Olaposi Sunday Oginni, State Chairman of African Action Congress AAC, Olusegun Sonoiki amongst others