The (INEC) has announced that it will publish the final figures for new voters in Edo and Ondo states, including detailed distribution by gender, age, occupation, and disability, later this week.
This comes as preparations for the governorship elections in both states move into high gear.
The governorship election in Edo State is scheduled for September 21, 2024, while the Ondo State election is set for November 16, 2024.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, made this disclosure on Monday during the third regular quarterly consultative meeting with political parties in Abuja.
Yakubu assured that despite recent setbacks, including severe flooding that impacted the commission’s state headquarters in Benin City, INEC has successfully addressed the damages.
He said infrastructure repairs, vehicle servicing, and facility refurbishments are complete, and additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines have been delivered to Edo State to support training for election personnel and contingency plans.
He added that the publication of the final voter figures will be followed by a timetable for the collection of uncollected Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) from previous and new registrants.
Yakubu emphasized that the final register of voters will be published no later than 30 days before each election.
He noted that political parties will receive the soft copy of the register for Edo State on August 20, 2024, and for Ondo State on October 15, 2024.
Yakubu also highlighted the deadline for political parties to submit their lists of agents.
”As of July 28, 2024, 14 political parties have uploaded details of 38,354 polling agents and 819 collation agents for the Edo State governorship election.
”However, three parties have yet to upload any agents. The portal for agent submissions will close at midnight on July 30, 2024,” he stated.
Yakubu urged all parties to meet the deadline to ensure the timely distribution of accreditation tags.
The commission expressed concern over recent violence in Edo State, including the death of security personnel, and revealed it plans to meet with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to address these issues.
On his part, Yusuf Dantalle, Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), called for the abolition of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs).
He argued that INEC should be empowered to conduct all local government elections to enhance democracy and eliminate inefficiencies associated with SIECs.
Dantalle criticized the proposed Local Government Independent Electoral Commission bill by the Senate, calling it a “waste of public funds” and a “mockery of democracy.”
He emphasized that credible and transparent elections in Edo and Ondo states are crucial for restoring public trust in the democratic process and ensuring effective governance.
