The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the total number of eligible voters for the off-season governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states will be unveiled soon.
Chairman of the Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this on Monday while addressing a gathering of leadership of political parties in Abuja.
Yakubu who revealed that the list of new voters added to the register in the two states was ready also declared that eligible parties and their candidates in Edo State will receive the softcopy of the register on 20th August 2024 while that of Ondo State will take place on 15th October 2024.
He said, “Following the conclusion of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), the display of the register for claims and objections by citizens, and further data clean-up using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), the final register for the 2024 Governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States are being finalised. Before the end of this week, the Commission will publish the final figures of new voters in the two States as well as their distribution by gender, age, occupation and disability. Thereafter, the timetable for the collection of uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) from previous registration and new registrants from the latest CVR will be published.
“The Commission is aware that going by our Timetable and Schedule of Activities, the register of voters will be published not later than 30 days before the date fixed for the election. We wish to reassure the Chairmen of political parties that each party fielding candidates in the forthcoming Governorship election in Edo State will receive the softcopy of the register on 20th August 2024 while that of Ondo State will take place on 15th October 2024.”
The Commission Chairman who gave Tuesday as deadline for parties to submit list of agents expressed strong reservations about the indifference on part of political parties to meet up with the deadline.
“As the Edo State Governorship approaches, I wish to remind leaders of political parties of your obligation to submit the list of your agents by uploading the required information, including photographs, to the dedicated portal. This requirement is listed as item 9 on the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election released by the Commission nearly a year ago on 26th September 2023.
“As at yesterday, Sunday 28th July 2024, 14 political parties have uploaded the details of 38,354 polling agents and 819 collation agents for the Edo State Governorship election. Three parties are yet to upload a single polling agent while five parties have not uploaded a single agent for Ward, Local Government and State collation centers. The deadline is tomorrow Tuesday 30th July 2024 when the portal automatically shuts down at midnight. I urge you to ensure that you meet the deadline so that the Commission can produce the accreditation tags and deliver them to you for distribution to your agents in good time.”
In his remarks, National Chairman of the Inter party Advisory Council, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, called for the scrapping of the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) urging the National Assembly to transfer the responsibility to INEC.
The IPAC National Chairman dismissed local government elections conducted by SIECs as mockery of democratic ethos and practises.
He frowned at move by the National Assembly to create Local Government Independent Electoral Commission.
He said: “To further deepen democracy at the grassroots level, IPAC demands the immediate scrapping of the States Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs). The charade called elections they conduct is an aberration, dent and mockery of our emerging democracy; a waste of tax payers’ money that ought to have been channeled to developmental projects.
“SIECS do not have voter registers, BVAS, IReV portals, ballot boxes and trained personnel to conduct credible elections. The polls they pretend to conduct contribute to voters’ apathy and distrust in the electoral process.
“To restore confidence in the electoral system, INEC should be empowered to conduct all Local Government elections. Politics is local, citizens should be encouraged to actively participate in grassroots politics and contribute in building a better society.
“In this vein, IPAC calls for the amendment of the Constitution and the Electoral Act to empower INEC to conduct all Local Governments polls. Council rejects the proposed bill by the Senate to create the so-called Local Government Independent Electoral Commission, bearing in mind that it would be another SIEC in disguise. It is unacceptable, ill-conceived, another electoral jamboree that will impede the nation’s democracy and waste public funds at a time when citizens demand a smaller government to reduce the cost of governance.
“Addressing the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Electoral Matters last week, INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu said the commission had the capacity to conduct all Local Government elections as it did for FCT Area Councils generally adjudged to be free and fair and without rancour. IPAC supports this and urges the National Assembly to amend the relevant electoral laws to accommodate it. ”
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