INEC Presents 1, 659, 186 Voters Register List To Political Parties In Ondo State
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented the official Voter Register to the Candidates and Leaders of the political parties participating in the November 26, 2016 governorship election in Ondo State.
Solomon Soyebi, National Commissioner in Charge of Publicity and Voter Education made the presentation publicly at a stakeholders meeting held in Akure.
Mr. Soyebi said a total of One Million Six Hundred and Fifty Nine Thousand One Hundred Eight Six (1, 659, 186) persons who made up the register are the eligible voters that would participate in the November governorship election of the State.
The INEC National Commissioner stated that the Commission would ensure strict compliance of the use of Smart Card Reader (SCR) for the process of the exercise and tasked the electorates to come out en mass for the poll.
A percentage of the Voters Register breakdown displayed at the event showed that the Male has (50.6%) and Female (49. 4%) on the list.
However, the Daily Times observed that the electoral body refused to give the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) a copy of the Voters Register lists at the venue of the event due to the crisis rocking the umbrella party in the state.
“I can’t give the PDP this register, you people would have to see us at the INEC office” Mr. Soyebi told Fatai Adams.
Mr. Adams, who is the factional State Deputy Chairman of the PDP had step forward to receive the official Voters Register behalf of the party but was turn down by the INEC official.
Segun Agbaje, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ondo State said the electoral body was prepared to give all the political parties participating in the poll a free level playing ground.
He disclosed that the presentation was in fulfillment of the dictates of section 20 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and part of the commission preparation to conduct a transparent guber election.
Mr. Agbaje noted that the Commission had already started working towards ensuring a free level playing ground for the candidates of the participating political parties in the November election.
He added that the security personnel and staff of the commission including other critical stakeholders in the electoral process of the state had been undergoing training programmes for the successful conduct of the election.
The REC further explained that the commission would ensure it build on its existing credibility and avoid being compromised by unscrupulous politicians as it prepared for the governorship Poll.
