National Telescope national telescope newspaper
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the distribution of 64,273 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in preparation for next week’s governorship election in Ondo State.
This comes after the Commission’s Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which has now been concluded.
INEC also revealed that it would deploy 4,002 Bimodal Voter Accreditation Systems (BVAS) to polling units across the state, with an additional 812 BVAS reserved as backups to ensure smooth voter accreditation during the election.
Non-sensitive election materials have already been sorted and are set to be distributed to polling units ahead of the polls.
At a stakeholders’ meeting held in Akure, Ondo State, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs. Babalola Oluwatoyin, assured all present—including representatives from Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), security agencies, and political parties—that the Commission is fully prepared for the election.
She emphasized the importance of collaboration from all stakeholders in achieving a credible, free, fair, and inclusive election.
“All Registration Area Centres (RACs) in the 18 Local Government Areas have been prepared, and materials have been provided for the comfort of our Ad-hoc staff who will be camping at these centres on the eve of the election,” Mrs. Oluwatoyin stated. She stressed that collaboration is key to the success of the election.
Meanwhile, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mamoud Yakubu, clarified that the BVAS machines used in the mock accreditation and training exercises would not be deployed for the actual election. He warned that INEC officials found negligent in their duties would face serious consequences.
“Let me reassure all stakeholders that INEC is ready for the election.
We have thoroughly tested our election technology, and sufficient technical support staff will be available to address any challenges that may arise,” said Prof. Yakubu. He also outlined the logistical arrangements in place, including the transportation of personnel and materials by both land and sea, ensuring that sensitive materials will arrive as early as Tuesday next week, ahead of Election Day.
The INEC Chairman further revealed that 111 domestic and international observer groups have been accredited to monitor the election, with 3,554 observers set to be deployed across Ondo State.
In addition to INEC’s preparations, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbedokun, announced that 22,239 police officers will be deployed to Ondo State to ensure the safety and security of voters, election officials, and the general public during the polls. He called on all stakeholders to approach the election with an open mind and a positive attitude.
The IGP reassured the public that the police would take all necessary steps to ensure the election is free from disruptions and violence, assuring that it would be a hitch-free exercise.
As the election draws closer, INEC, security agencies, and other stakeholders are intensifying efforts to ensure a peaceful, transparent, and credible process.
