Collect your PVCs, your votes will count – Yakubu assures Ondo voters

By Tunde Opalana

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged residents of Ondo State to turn out in large numbers to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) and vote on Election Day with the same enthusiasm they showed during the registration process.

The Commission assured voters in the State that their votes will be protected, emphasizing that the responsibility of choosing the next Governor of Ondo State rests with them come 16th November 2024.

Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, provided gave the assurance during a meeting of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) held at the Commission’s State Office in Akure.

He commended the security agencies for their cooperation and noted that the build-up to the election in the state has been generally peaceful so far.

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Prof. Yakubu expressed concern that over Two Hundred Thousand PVCs from previous registrations remain uncollected and urged their owners to pick them up during the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) Exercise.

He said “I want to assure registered voters in Ondo State that they should continue to troop out in their numbers to register, come out and collect their PVCs from the current registration, but we also have literarily over Two Hundred Thousand uncollected PVCs from the last exercise. So, we encourage people to come and collect their PVCs so they cast their votes for whoever they wish to vote for on Election Day.”

Assuring Ondo State residents of INEC’s neutrality, determination and commitment to protect the sanctity of the ballot, Prof. Yakubu stated “Let me say what I consistently continue to say that INEC is not a political party, we don’t have a candidate in the Ondo governorship election. The choice of who becomes the next Governor in Ondo State is entirely in the hands of voters, and we’ll protect their choices and the integrity of the process.”

Speaking on the purpose of his visit to the State, the INEC Hon. Chairman explained, “First it’s for us to observe the Continuous Voter Registration exercise, the progress we are making, and the challenges. Secondly, it’s to observe the preparation for the forthcoming Governorship Election.”

He observed, “The build-up to this governorship election has so far, I underscore the word so far, been very peaceful, and we hope that working together with the security agencies, we will sustain the peace.”

Prof. Yakubu emphasized the importance of a secure electoral process. He stated, “Let me once again appreciate the members of ICCES. INEC does not only conduct elections, INEC also conducts electoral activities. The CVR is an electoral activity and in November 2024 we will conduct the election. We can’t succeed in delivering electoral activities and the elections unless the electoral environment is secured for us and until critical stakeholders are sensitized.

“That is why in ICCES you have not only the traditional Security Agencies, but we have the Intelligence Agencies, we have the Law Enforcement Agencies, we have Emergency Services, and other members of ICCES such as the NYSC, the NOA, and others.” He said.

The Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Abayomi Oladipo while responding credited the success in securing the electoral environment to the strong synergy between INEC and the security agencies. He said, “At the moment, we don’t seem to have challenges relating to elections, apart from the crimes that are being committed and are localized to the various Senatorial Districts.”

According to the CP, “ On the side of the police, we realized that we cannot do it alone and that is why we have the support of every security agency and members of ICCES in the State, that we move together as a team and tackle the budding election crisis. We are equal to the task and assure you that on our own part, we will discharge our duties to ensure that the people, the staff of INEC and the materials are protected.”

In her welcome remarks, the Resident Electoral Commissioner Ondo State, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola Esq., noted that the INEC Hon. Chairman’s visit provided a valuable opportunity for direct interaction, discussing pressing issues, challenges and highlighting the state of preparedness for the November 2024 Governorship Election.

Mrs. Babalola commended the security agencies for their continued support while disclosing that all the CVR-designated centers in Ondo State are well-manned by security personnel. She further mentioned that there have been no negative reports so far in the ongoing CVR Exercise.

The INEC Hon. Chairman and his team visited some CVR centers at the State office, Akure North Local Government, and Akure South Local Government Area to observe the registration process.

On the Chairman’s entourage were the Hon. National Commissioner Supervising Ondo State, Prof. Kunle Ajayi; Hon. National Commissioner Kenneth Nnamdi Ukeagu; Chief Technical Adviser to the Hon. INEC Chairman, Prof. Bolade Eyinla and the Chief Press Secretary to the Hon. INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi.

Also on his team were the Director of Voter Registry, Mr. Tunde Gafar, and the Acting Director of ICT, Dr. Lawrence Bayode.