The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Oyo State, Barrister Mutiu Agboke has debunked report in some sections of the media that the numbers of Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) was higher than the numbers of registered voters in Oyo State.
As the Commission disclosed that a total number of two million, one hundred and seventy six thousands, three hundred and fifty two (2,176,352) Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs), have been distributed to prospective voters in the state.
The Presidential and National Assembly elections which were shifted in the early hours of last Saturday, have been slated to hold across the 33 local government areas in the state this Saturday.
Agboke, who made this disclosure while addressing a stakeholders meeting on Tuesday at the commission’s headquarters in Ibadan, the state capital, noted that a total number of 7,336 functional smart card readers have been received by the commission in the state for the elections.
The REC who maintained that there was no discrepancies in the total number of registered voters and the total number of collected and uncollected PVCs, insisted that a total number of registered voters in the state stands at 2,934,107.
Agboke stressed that a total number of 2,176,352 PVCs have been distributed while a total number of 786,294 have not been collected.
He expressed the readiness of the commission to conduct credible and credible elections in the state.
According to him, “There was no discrepancies in the total number of registered voters in the state. There is no discrepancies in the total number of collected and uncollected PVCs and the total number of registered voters in the state. We have told you the totak number of registered voters and uncollected PVCs.
“We have 2,934,107 registered voters in the state. We have distributed 2,176,352 PVCs. A total of 786,294 PVCs are uncollected. We don’t have shortfall of ballot boxes and ballot papers in the state.
“We required a total of 6,390 smart card readers in Oyo state but we have received 7,336 functional and enhanced card readers. Equally, we have recruited and trained 351 registration area technicians one per ward for the purpose of attending to faults that smart card readers may develop in the field.
“INEC in Oyo state has already recruited and trained over twenty-eight thousand (28,000) personnel for the Presidential and National Assembly elections.
“In Oyo state, we have no shortfall at all. We have ballot boxes and ballot papers for the Presidential and National Assembly elections. Let me on behalf of this office express and tender unreserved apology to the Nigerian voters for the rescheduling of the general elections by one week. It is unavoidable.
“The poll open at 8am and close at 2pm while those on the voting queue as at 2pm will be allowed to cast their votes. Results of election at the polling units and collated votes at all collation centers will be posted at respective venues. In addition, party agents at every level will be given copies of the result sheets”.
Also speaking, the commissioner of police, Oyo state command, Mr Shina Olukolu maintained that the police in the state will sustain the peace in the state.
According to him, “I can assure you that the peace in the state will be sustained. Meaning that we are on top of the situation. We are ready to provide security to all and sundry. And those who ready to cause trouble, we are ready for them. Prospective voters should just go out on Saturday and perform their constitutional responsibility”.
At the meeting were the state commissioner of Police, Mr. Shina Olukolu, Director of DSS in the state, State Commandant of NSCDC, Mr. John Adewoye, representative of GOC of the 2nd Division, Nigerian Army, State Director of NOA Mrs. Dolapo Dosunmu and representatives of political parties in the state.
Editor, South-West,
Lagos Post Online
Email: raji_adebayong@yahoo.com
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