In a bid to ensure a smooth electoral process in the forthcoming Governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has charged political parties and stakeholders for early mobilization of voters ahead of the exercise.
The appeal, made by the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu at the 2nd Regular Quarterly Consultative Meeting with Political Parties for 2024, in Abuja on Monday, underscores the importance of early voter registration participation.
With just months remaining until the scheduled elections, INEC has announced the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) process in both states.
This initiative aims to provide eligible citizens with the opportunity to register as voters or transfer their registration from other states or locations within the two states.
Highlighting the urgency of the matter, Prof. Yakubu emphasized the need for prospective registrants to take advantage of the early registration period.
He cautioned against waiting until the deadline approaches, which often leads to overcrowded registration centers and potential delays.
To facilitate the registration process, INEC has designated 397 walk-in registration centers across Edo and Ondo States, including Ward registration centers and state headquarters.
The commission has also announced the commencement of training for over 794 officials who will oversee the registration exercise.
He said, “Taking into consideration the limited time to the Governorship elections, the Commission has decided to conduct the registration at Ward level and our State headquarters instead of our Local Government offices and a few designated centers as was case in the past.
“This means that there will be 192 Ward registration centres in Edo State and 203 centres in Ondo State, in addition to our State offices in Benin City and Akure, making a total of 397 walk-in registration centres in the two States.
“There will be no online pre-registration option in the two States because of time constraint. Each centre will be managed by two officials drawn from our regular staff and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC),” he said.
“In the coming days, the list of uncollected PVCs will be published in our offices in the two States and simultaneously uploaded to our website. Again, we encourage those who have not collected their PVCs in the two States to seize the opportunity to do so,” he said.
He further said the commission has already published the final list of candidates for the Edo State Governorship election following the conclusion of party primaries and the end of the period for withdrawal and substitution of candidates as provided in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election.
“Campaign in public by political parties commenced on Wednesday 24th April 2024 and will end at midnight on Thursday 19th September 2024 i.e. 24 hours before the date fixed for the election as provided by law.
Yakubu reiterated to party leaders the need to continue to maintain law and order during the electioneering process and beyond, stating that “it is also imperative to remind political parties of the need to adhere strictly to the timeline for the upload of the list of polling and collation agents to the dedicated portal.”
“Doing so will enable the Commission to produce and deliver the identity cards in good time for the expected 76,823 Polling Unit agents and 3,587 Ward, Local Government and State collation agents for the 17 political parties participating in the election.”
On Ondo State governorship election, he said 18 political parties conducted and concluded primaries monitored by the commission, while reminding the parties that they have one week to the deadline for the nomination of candidates which is 6.00pm on Monday 20th May 2024 when the portal automatically shuts down.
“I urge you to adhere strictly to the deadline. Political parties have been given 23 days (over three weeks) from the end of primaries to prepare and submit the list of only two candidates (Governorship candidate and running mate) to the Commission. There will be no extension of time,” he said.
Also speaking, the National Chairman of the Interparty Advisory Council, IPAC, Yusuf Dantalle, called on INEC, leaders of political parties, civil society organizations, security agencies, judiciary, the press and citizens to be firm and decisive in protecting the nation’s democracy.
Dantalle, who is also the National Chairman of Allied People’s Movement, APM, recalled that 29th May, 2024 marks the one-year anniversary of the current elected officers, 25 years of uninterrupted democracy since the restoration of civil rule on 29th May, 1999, sixty-four years of political independence and 101 years of the formation of a political party in Nigeria.
“this is food for thought and calls for sober reflection in the quest for a strong, united, progressive, equitable and just democratic nation.”
“Our hard-earned democracy must be sustained. It should not be allowed to derail by the activities of anti-democratic and reactionary forces,” he said.
“We condemn in strong terms politics of bitterness, do-or-die politics and divisive politics that have tendencies of undermining our emerging democracy.
“It is unacceptable! Politicians must abide by democratic ideals, ethics and ethos, and desist from inflammatory utterances and actions that could impede our constitutional government. More importantly, political parties must adhere strictly by their constitutions in conducting congresses, primaries and conventions.
“The high expression of interest and nomination fees charged by some political parties should be reviewed despite being internal affairs of the parties. IPAC will continue to engage party leaders on this among; others that will curb imposition of candidates and boost internal democracy as we strive to make Nigeria better,” he said.
