The Independent National Electoral Commission has finalized preparations for the Ondo State governorship election, scheduled for November 16, 2024, by completing the Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
According to The PUNCH, the commission confirmed that a total of 2,053,061 voters are now registered to participate in the poll.
While addressing reporters at INEC’s headquarters in Akure, the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, provided an update on the registration process and the commission’s readiness for the election.
She stated, “The Continuous Voter Registration exercise has been successfully concluded, with a significant rise in the number of registered voters across Ondo State.”
According to Babalola, 58,708 new voters were registered during the exercise. Additionally, 3,132 voters transferred their registrations into the state, while 123 transferred theirs out. This brings the total number of registered voters to just over 2 million. She emphasized that the registration process was inclusive, ensuring accessibility for women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
Babalola urged registered voters who have yet to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to do so at INEC’s local government offices, as the commission works to simplify the collection process by setting up additional PVC collection centers.
In preparation for the upcoming election, Babalola announced that a large portion of non-sensitive election materials had been dispatched to the 18 local government areas of the state. She added that sensitive materials had also been received and would be distributed accordingly. “We are working closely with the relevant security agencies and stakeholders to ensure the safe storage and timely distribution of these materials on the eve of the election,” she said.
Sixteen political parties will be participating in the Ondo State election, and Babalola confirmed that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would be deployed across the state’s 3,933 polling units. “This system will also transmit polling unit results directly to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), enabling greater transparency and real-time access to election results by the public,” she explained.
Babalola called on security agencies to collaborate with INEC to ensure a safe and peaceful electoral process and urged voters to remain law-abiding throughout the election.
