Stakeholders Urge INEC For CVR Exercise Centres In Ondo

Stakeholders in Ondo State have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to create more registration centres in the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration exercise in order for people in suburb area in the state to register.

Speaking at the maiden meeting of election with stakeholders held at the INEC office in Akure, the state capital, the state Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Ondo Chapter, Rev. John Ayo-Oladapo said its very important for the commission to create more registration centres so that those people in the rural area in the state would have easily access to register in the ongoing exercise.

Rev. Ayo-Oladapo posited that ‘having one registration centre in each local government area would had hardship on them’, however tasked the INEC to look into the matter.

He therefore said that Christian in the state would continue partnering with the commission and even praying in order to move the state forward.

In his reaction, the newly Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Barrister Mutiu Agboke said the request would be sent to the National Headquarters of INEC for consideration, saying since it was the wishes of the citizenry.

Agboke said that the commission has created six additional centres to minimise the hardship faced by eligible registrants and to decongest some registration centres in the state but it would still do more.

The six additional centres according to him were as follows: Akure South, Odigbo, Idanre, Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo, Ondo West and Ose Local Government Areas.

The REC emphasised that the mission of the commission was to serve as an Independent and effective election management body committed to conduct free, fair and credible elections for sustainable democracy in Nigeria.

He however said that the commission would continue to engage with all stakeholders and constutuencies including the electorates, the media, civil society, organisations, political parties, politicians, security agencies, religious leaders and traditional rulers among others in order to be effective in its values.

His words, “I wish to assure you that INEC under my leadership will continue to provide a level playing field for all political parties and contestants in the state, we shall strive at all times to live up to our cherished values of probity, fairness and integrity in the discharge of our mandate in Ondo state as well as in the entire country”.