The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ogun State has expressed its readiness for the general elections that will begin on February 14, saying that proactive measures have been put in place to ensure a hitch free exercise.
The state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Timothy Ibitoye, gave the assurance at a mobilisation and sensitisation forum organised by the commission at the June 12 cultural centre in Abeokuta, the state capital.
While addressing the gathering, the Governor the State, Mr Ibikunle amosun, appeal to the INEC to speed up the distribution of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) which has become an issue, saying that about 35% of residents have so far been able to collect their cards.
The mobilisation and sensitisation forum on the 2015 elections brought together members of political parties, organised private sector, members of the European election observers, security chiefs in the state with the aim of educating the electorates on the forth coming general elections. The issue of the Permanent Voter Card seemed to have generated discourse at the occasion. Participants expressed concerns over the distribution and delay this sentiment was also shared by the governor of the state.
While expressing the readiness of the commission for the election, the Resident Electoral Commissioner said that elections would be conducted in all the 3,210 polling units across the 236 wards of the 20 Local Government Areas of the state.
The commissioner also said that the commission was seeking the understanding and cooperation of all stakeholders in the state in its bid to conduct free, fair and credible elections in the state.
As part of efforts to ensure that electorates get their PVCs, the electoral body shifted the deadline for collection of the voters card to February 8, asking all registered voters to go to collection centres in their Local Government Area and pick up their cards.
It expressed optimism that over 80 per cent of the cards would be picked up before the elections begin.
There have been calls for the postponement of the elections since many electorates have not been able to collect their cards, but the electoral body said it had given enough time for the cards to be picked up.
