The Ondo State headquarters of the Independent Electoral Commission INEC has officially announced that the register of voters will be presented to all political parties on Tuesday 15th , October,2024 in line with the provision of section 10(4) of the electoral Act, 2022 which provides that when a general election is notified by the commission under section 28 of the act
The Press Conference by the Hon. Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola on the Level of Preparedness for the 2024 Ondo State Governorship Election, held on 14th October 2024 at the Conference Hall, INEC Ondo State Akure.
Protocols
Good afternoon, esteemed members of the press, On behalf of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), I welcome you to this press briefing, organized to provide an update on our level of preparedness for the 2024 Ondo State Governorship Election scheduled for the 16th November, 2024.
As one of the esteemed election stakeholders, I am pleased to inform you that INEC, in collaboration with other partners, has been working tirelessly to ensure a smooth, credible, free, fair, peaceful, transparent, and inclusive election. Let me take this opportunity to provide you with key updates on our ongoing preparations:
PUBLICATION AND PRESENTATION OF OFFICIAL REGISTER OF VOTERS TO THE POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE STATE
The timetable and the schedule of activities for Ondo state governorship election slated for 15th October, 2024 for the presentation of the Official Register of Voters to political parties in line with the provisions of section 10(4) of the Electoral Act, 2022 which provides:
Section 10 (4)
When a general election is notified by the Commission under section 28 of this Act, the current official register of voters certified by the Commission in accordance with the provision of this Act shall be the official voters’ register
You will recall that the Commission conducted a Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) Exercise between 27th May 2024 . At the end of the exercise, there was a significant increase in registered voters across the state: 58,708 new voters were registered. In addition, 3,132 voters transferred their registration into and within Ondo State, while 123 voters transferred their registration within and out of Ondo State. The harmonized total number of new registered voters with the old registered voters is now 2,053,061.
The Register of Voters is a vital document that contains the details of all eligible voters for the election. The register is the foundation of electoral credibility. It plays a pivotal role in ensuring that every eligible voter can exercise their civic duty.
In line with statutory requirement to publish and provide copies of the voter register to all political parties, the Commission will present the updated register to political parties on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at the INEC Conference Room in Akure, starting at 9:00 a.m.
I encourage political parties to seize this opportunity, as it reflects the Commission’s commitment to transparency and ensuring a level playing field. It is also an excellent moment to enhance voter education and sensitization efforts, enabling the electorate to critically engage with party manifestos and make informed choices.
PVC COLLECTION
I am pleased to announce that the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Ondo State will commence from 17th October, 2024. This exercise will begin at the Registration Area (RA) level until October 21st , 2024, including the weekend. PVC distribution will take place across all 203 RAs in the state, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily after which it will continue at the Local Government Area (LGA) level from 23rd to 29th October, 2024. PVCs will be distributed at designated collection centers across all 203 Registration Areas within the state’s 18 LGAs. I urge registered voters, especially those who recently updated their details or are newly registered, to take advantage of this opportunity to collect their PVCs. I also encourage those who had previously registered but are yet to collect their cards to use this window to do so.
Please note that INEC is fully committed to ensuring a smooth and accessible PVC collection process, I, therefore, encourage all eligible voters to make sure they collect their cards, as timely distribution of PVCs is expected to enhance voter participation and help guarantee a credible and inclusive election.
TRAINING OF SECURITY AGENTS AHEAD OF ELECTION
To ensure a secure electoral environment before, during, and after the November 16 governorship election, INEC has commenced the Election Security Personnel (ESP) training. This program is designed for all categories of security personnel to be deployed at various stages of the election. The training began today, 14th October 2024, and will conclude on 16th October 2024 at the state level, with the zonal sessions scheduled for the three senatorial districts from 18th to 20th October, 2024.
This training aims to equip our security agents with the necessary knowledge and skills to handle the unique challenges that may arise before, during, and after the election. At the end of this training, they are expected to cascade the training down the line having acquired the requisite skill and knowledge to effectively bring out the best and enhance a high-level spirit of professionalism in security personnel deployed for the election.
TRAINING OF RAC MANAGERS
Recognizing the vital role of Assistant Electoral Officers in charge of RACs and RAC Managers in managing the receipt and dispatch of both sensitive and non-sensitive election materials, coordinating personnel movement, and ensuring that all logistics are in place for a smooth election, INEC will also conduct training for this group of officials. The training is scheduled to take place from 15th to 16th October, 2024.
TRAINING OF ELECTORAL OFFICERS
The 18 Electoral Officers and their assistants have also completed a five-day technical training. This training was conducted in recognition of the sensitive nature of their work and the need to enhance their skills, thereby improving their performance in the upcoming election.
ONLINE ACCREDITATION FOR JOURNALISTS COVERING ONDO GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION
Let me use this opportunity to remind media organizations that the portal for accreditation of journalists who wish to cover the upcoming Ondo State governorship Election is ongoing. The Portal which was opened on the 9th September 2024 shall automatically shut down at midnight on the 31s October, 2024.
I encourage those who have not registered for accreditation to please do so on time to avoid last-minute issues. Kindly apply via the link: https://imap.inecnigeria.org
Please note that manual accreditation will not be entertained.
OUTSTANDING ACTIVITIES
I am pleased to inform you that a few of the statutory activities in the timeline and schedule of activities for the election are outstanding. These statutory activities will be carried out promptly as scheduled. They are:
Publication of official Register of Voters for the election by the Commission – 15th October 2024
Publication of notice of Poll by the Commission – 2nd November 2024
Last day for campaigns by political parties – 14th November 2024
Date of Election – 16th November 2023
Other activities are internal logistics and technical arrangements towards the election.
Conclusion
Ladies and gentlemen, let me reiterate that INEC is fully committed to conducting a credible, transparent, and inclusive election in Ondo State. We call on the good people of Ondo State to come out en masse on Election Day to exercise their franchise peacefully, and contribute to the growth of democratic process in Nigeria. They should note that their votes will count.
Thank you for your attention
Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola
Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Ondo State
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
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