700,000 PVC waiting for collection, says Oyo REC

By Richard Thomas, Ibadan

Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, Dr. Mutiu Agboke has called for the assistance of traditional rulers and other critical stakeholders to sensitize voters to collect the over 700,000 Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVC) awaiting collection at the state office of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Dr. Agboke made the call during a visit to the Olubadan of Ibadan land,  Oba Lekan Balogun (Alli Okunmade II) by the management team at the Alarere residence of the monarch.

Using the occasion to present the Olubadan with the ‘Online Voter Registration Steps’ poster, the REC said the uncollected PVCs were enough to make a candidate elected, noting that the total number of votes scored by the two leading governorship candidates in 2019 governorship election was not up to 700,000 .

He said the purpose of the visit was to rejoice with Oba Balogun for ascending the throne of his forefathers and to solicit for his assistance and cooperation as a respected voice in the community on the need for residents’ active participation in electoral activities.

Aside the collection of PVC by residents, the REC also urged the monarch to help appeal to the various political parties to play the game according to the rules of engagement.

“INEC is doing everything possible to ensure hitch-free elections, but, we need the cooperation of the political parties by adhering to the rules.

“When the law says no to vote-buying, it is not INEC that goes about with money at the polling centres, the political parties are the ones. We started preparations for the next elections immediately after the 2019 elections and the results of our preparations manifested in the successful conduct of elections in Edo, Kogi, Bayelsa and Anambra states.

“In addition, we had other bye-elections that were successfully conducted and we are out again to ensure that the 2023 elections are without hiccups of any form. But, we can only achieve this with the support and cooperation of all the stakeholders which formed part of our visit here, Kabiyesi,’ the REC stated.

Dr. Agboke also told Oba Balogun that the Commission would on Monday, next week begin the fourth phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), even as he urged the monarch to help appeal to the residents to take advantage of it by participating in the exercise.

Olubadan, who in his response assured the REC of the Palace’s support for the Commission’s programmes called for enough sensitization of the general populace.

He urged the Commission to be conscious of the political awareness level of the residents.

The monarch equally appealed to both the politicians and the electorate to work towards making Nigeria great by following the political rule.

He said: “There’s nothing special about the so called advance societies that makes them better than we blacks except that they do things rightly.

“Let’s fully participate in all the pre-electoral activities and vote peacefully during elections. Let us collaborate with ourselves and since INEC is ready, we as citizens too should be ready. I appeal to all to let’s see to the greatness of this country by doing things rightly.”