The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nigeria has begun the distribution of permanent voters’ card in Osun and Ekiti States ahead of the states’ governorship elections.
The governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, received his permanent voter’s card from the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Ambassador Rufus Akeju, in Ilesa, where he had earlier registered.
He asked the voters make the electoral process count by exercising their right to choose their leaders.
“We must encourage our people to fully participate in the democratic exercise and we must emphasise the need for all citizen to be very vigilant and ensure that maximum benefit comes from their representatives,” Governor Aregbesola said on Saturday after collecting his card.
Ambassador Akeju, told Channels Television that the electoral body had made adequate preparation.
“INEC has worked very hard in this, to make sure that it is issued. So far so good, it has been going smoothly,” he said.
The Oni of Ife also received his voters card at his place in Ile Ife.
The Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who also obtained his permanent voter’s card in his country home in Isan Ekiti, said he was encouraged by the initial turnout of potential voters.
Dr Fayemi said that the turn was as a result of sensitisation programmes that the state government had embarked on.
“We have done a lot of sensitisation. We have deliberately declared today a work free day so that people can go out and do this. We are also putting out adverts out there on radio and on television to sensitise the populace.
He stressed the need for people to have the card as it was the only thing they needed to be allowed to vote.
An election timetable released by the electoral commission slated the Ekiti State governorship election on June 21 while the Osun State governorship Election is scheduled to hold on August 9.
