Ondo Guber: Steer clear polling units – INEC warns people without PVCs

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has issued a stern warning to people without permanent voter cards, PVCs, to steer clear of polling centres during the November 16 Governorship Election in Ondo State.

INEC National Commissioner Supervising Ondo, Ogun and Osun States, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, gave the warning at the presentation of soft copies of the Register of Voters for the election to the political parties on Tuesday in Akure.

Ajayi pledged the Commission’s preparedness and determination to conduct a free, fair, credible, and inclusive election in the state, adding that 2,053,006 eligible voters were registered.

“It is important to reiterate to you that the Commission shall commence the distribution of the newly printed Permanent Voters Cards and the uncollected PVCs from the previous CVR exercise starting from Thursday.

“I strongly encourage all political party representatives to mobilise their supporters to come out and collect their PVCs.

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“Also, the Civil Society Organisations and the media here present are to use their various strong outlets and platforms to encourage the general public, registrants, and eligible voters to come out en masse to collect their PVCs.

“Because without the PVC, nobody would be allowed to vote,” he said.

Ajayi said the collection of PVCs wouldn’t be by proxy as it was against the law, stressing that anyone found having more than one PVC would be made to face the full extent of the law.

He, therefore, called on Persons With Disability (PWD), PWD-focused CSOs, and groups to encourage any PWD to come out and collect their PVCs.

Ajayi said the Commission has made adequate provision for assistive devices which will ensure a seamless voting experience for all PWDs in the forthcoming election.

Speaking, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC in Ondo State, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, said the publication and presentation of the voter register were crucial and a statutory step in safeguarding the credibility and transparency of the electoral process.

Babalola said the presentation was a powerful reminder that the future of Ondo State was in the hands of its people.