Women, PWDs lead voter registration in Edo, Ondo, says INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has released a report on the composition of newly registered voters in Edo and Ondo states, ahead of the upcoming governorship elections.

The data reveals that women and persons with disabilities are leading the voter registration drive in both states.

In Edo State, a total of 119,206 new voters have been registered, with women making up 54.95% of the total, while men account for 45.05%. Similarly, in Ondo State, 58,708 new voters have been registered, with women constituting 51.75% and men making up 48.25%.

The report also highlights the occupational distribution of voters, with artisans, businesspeople, and farmers/fishermen making up the largest groups in both states. In terms of age, the majority of voters in both states fall within the youth category (18-35 years), accounting for 84.62% in Edo and 81.98% in Ondo.

Notably, the data shows a significant representation of persons with disabilities among the newly registered voters. In Edo State, the most common disabilities are physical impediment (19.14%), albinism (27.16%), and blindness (11.79%). Similarly, in Ondo State, the most common disabilities are albinism (30.36%), physical impediment (18.65%), and blindness (9.74%).

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, stated that the commission has completed the cleaning up of the data using the Automated Biometric Identification System, ABIS, and will soon release the comprehensive and final register of voters for each state.

He said,,”Nigerians may recall that in our Pess Statement on Tuesday 11th June 2024, we released the preliminary figures of newly registered voters for the forthcoming Edo and Ondo State Governorship elections before the period for claims and objections, followed by the cleaning up of the data using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS). These processes have now been concluded.

“The number of new voters for Edo State is 119,206 and 58,708 for Ondo State. These figures do not include the 8,847 applications for transfer into Edo State and the 3,132 into Ondo State from other States of the Federation. Similarly, they do not include applications for transfer within the two States because they are already captured on the register of voters.

“The figures of the new voters and inter-State transfers are being integrated into the existing register. In the next few days, the Commission will release the comprehensive and final register of voters to be used for the 2024 Governorship elections for each of the two States.

“Meanwhile, the analysis of new voters for Edo and Ondo States, indicating their distribution by Local Government Areas, gender, age, occupation and disability has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for public information.”