600,000 PVC remains uncollected in Oyo – INEC REC

THE Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) Oyo state, Barrister Mutiu Agboke has revealed that over 600,000 Permanent Voters Card (PVC); registered about 146, 795 voters; 75,683 males and 67,145 females since the commencement of the exercise on Thursday, April 27, 2017.

Agboke stated this while addressing stakeholders at the maiden meeting of the Stakeholders’ election Forum at INEC State Office, Agodi, Ibadan, on Wednesday.

He also called on citizens and stakeholders from the nook and cranny in the state to directly engage the Commission in its quest to deliver credible, free and fair election come 2019.

He noted that this is the first time the electoral commission in Nigeria will embark on Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).

“Our electoral system had been used to periodic registration as against the continuous one embarked upon by the current leadership of the commission.”

Agboke disclosed that “Since the commencement of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the state, the Commission has registered about 146,795 voters; 75,683 males and 67,145 females. However, the total number of over 600,000 PVCs still uncollected. This is disturbing and disheartening considering the fact that registration cannot be done by proxy. I believe we all know that collection of PVC is much easier than Voter registration. This is a challenge for all the stakeholders.”

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Assuring the stakeholders on conducting a credible election in the state, Agboke vowed to “build upon the existing level playing field, shun favouritism, ensure cordial relationship, encourage Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and practice all-embracing open door policy. Since INEC cannot do it all alone, the support, cooperation and assistance of all stakeholders are germane to ensuring free, fair and credible general elections come 2019.”

He then counsels participants against hate speeches or hateful dispositions to one another, noting that “you need to start educating and re-educating your members. We must get it right together.”

He then assured them that the door of the state chapter of the Commission is open to stakeholders without restriction, challenging them to “monitor our activities, seek clarifications where necessary. Avoid insinuations and unfounded allegations, we should avoid any act of destabilizing ourselves politically.”