As part of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s efforts in achieving free, fair and credible elections towards 2019, the Resident Electoral Commission, Barrister Mutiu Agboke on Thursday, held a stakeholders’ meeting at the Conference Room of the Commission.
The purpose of the meeting REC noted was to create more awareness on the need for all stakeholders in the electioneering process to sensitize the electorate over the collection of unclaimed Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) totalling over seven hundred thousand and fifty PVCs in Oyo State, adding that it was easier to register than to collect PVCs.
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He intimated on the temporary suspension of ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) by 17th August until after the completion of general elections in 2019 and continuous collection of PVCs until a week to the general elections.
“It has been decided that from 1st of August Voter’s Registration will take place daily, public holiday inclusive from 9a.m to 5 p.m” Barr Agboke stressed.
He was also quick to add that all stakeholders needed to be proactive and plan adequately ahead of the elections in order to justify the early release of time table/schedule of activities for 2019 by the Commission.
Other activities of the Commission Rec mentioned included: the enhancement of Smart Card Readers for increased efficiency, simultaneous accreditation and voting,consistent voter and civic education on the electoral process by the Commission to mention a few.
He concluded by soliciting for the collective efforts of all and sundry so as to achieve free, fair and credible elections as INEC could not achieve the same alone.
Present at the occasion included members of the management team, all 33 INEC LGAs electoral officers, representatives of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC)/Political Parties / Security Personnel/CSOs/NGOs/NOA/Media and the like.
