The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained reasons for the sharp increase in the number of registrants in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) between November 2021 and March 2022 in Ogun.
INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ogun, Niyi Ijalaye, gave the reasons at a press conference in Abeokuta.
Ogun recorded 22,167 registrants as at November, 2021, in the exercise which commenced on June 28, 2021, across the nation.
Ijalaye, at the press conference, had described the figure as “abysmally low”, in comparison with the performance of other states in the South-West region.
He, however, noted with delight, that the state had experienced an appreciable increase in the registration between November, 2021, and March, 2022.
“The registration figure for the state as at our previous meeting on the CVR in November, was abysmally low.
“Then, it was 22,167, but now, we are at par with other states in the South-West region.
“As at Monday, March 21, the CVR figure for Ogun is now 85,600 completed
registration,” he said.
The REC attributed the development to renewed and collective efforts of INEC’ staff and effective collaborations with stakeholders, particularly, newsmen and leaders of political parties in the state.
Ijalaye added that the devolution of the INEC Voter Enrolment Device (IVED) to the 236 electoral wards in the state, was also partly responsible for the sudden rise .
“I wish to appreciate our critical stakeholders, especially, leaders of political parties and the members of the press for collaborating with us in achieving the feat.
“I wish to solicit your continuous support and collaborations in all of our future endeavors,” he said
He explained that the development was a demonstration of INEC’s determinatio to capturing all eligible voters in the state.
It was reported that the third quarter of the exercise which commenced on January 3, ended on Tuesday, while the fourth quarter will commence on April 11.
Ijalaye added that the commission would display the register of new voters captured during the ended third quarter from Monday to April 1, at INEC’s local government area offices across the state for claims and objections.
“This is to enable the public to assist commission in identifying ineligible registrants like foreginers and Nigerians who are less that 18 years on the list and those that might have died before now,” he said.
He explained that the excercise (Display for Claims and Objections) aimed at clearing up the register before joining fresh registrants to the existing register ahead if printing of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs)
Ijalaye assured that when the fourth quarter of the CVR commences on April 11, the IVED would be rotated throughout the 236 registration areas with special attention to the newly created 1,832 polling units in the state.
“This is to ensure that we maintain and populate the polling units for the Commission may cancel Ang polling unit with less than 50 registrants,” he said.
Leaders of the various political parties at the programme pledged their support for the electoral process and urged the commission to ensure that they remained an unbiased umpire throughout the electoral process.
