Ondo polls: INEC distributes 64,273 PVCs
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said a total of 64,273 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were collected after its Continuous Voters Registration exercise ahead of next week’s governorship election in Ondo State.
It said it would deploy a total of 4,002 BVAS for the election while 812 BVAS would be set aside as backups.
The electoral body said non-sensitive election materials for the election were already sorted and batched for distribution to polling units.
Ondo Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Babalola Oluwatoyin, stated this in Akure at a stakeholders meeting with Civil Society Organisations, security agencies and political parties.
Oluwarotimi said all Registration Area Centres (RACs) in the 18 Local Government Areas have been prepared, and materials provided for the comfort of the Ad-hoc staff camping at the centres on the eve of election.
She said a credible, free, fair and inclusive election could not be achieved without collaborative efforts of all stakeholders.
National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mamoud Yakubu, said BVAS machines used for mock accreditation and training would not be used for the election
Prof. Mamoud warned INEC officials of dire consequences for dereliction of duties.
The INEC Chairman the Commission has accredited 111 domestic and international organisations that would further deploy 3,554 observers for the election.
According to him, “Let me reassure stakeholders that INEC is ready for the election. We are deploying the BVAS machines for voter accreditation at polling units and for the upload of results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.
“We have test-run our election technology in preparation for the Election Day. We are deploying enough technical support staff to address any challenges that may occur. We have made arrangements for land and maritime transportation of personnel and materials. We have arranged for the delivery of sensitive materials for the election to arrive as early as Tuesday next week.
“Election is a multi-stakeholder activity. INEC has a role to play and we have done so always in consultation with stakeholders.”
Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbedokun said 22, 239 policemen would be deployed to the state.
Egbedokun urged the stakeholders to approach the election with open mind and positive mindset.
He assured that the police would do all things to ensure a hitch-free exercise.
