Less than fifteen weeks to the general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said that no fewer than Nine Hundred Thousand (900,000) uncollected permanent voters’ cards (PVCs) are still in its custody in Oyo state.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Oyo State, Barrister Mutiu Agboke made this disclosure when the House of Representatives Committee on INEC visited him as part of the committees’ oversight functions in Ibadan on Thursday.
Agboke while receiving the lawmakers said that in spite of the fact that the Commission adopted a series of strategies, the number of uncollected PVCs had remained high.
He, however, assured that the commission would continue to reach out to owners of the unclaimed PVCs so they can participate in the forthcoming general elections.
He told the committee that only 47 registered political parties would participate in the 2019 elections in the state.
According to him, 351 registration areas/wards; 4,783 polling units; and 5,620 voting points are in 33 local government areas of the state.
A member of the committee, Hon. Victor Akinjo while speaking urged their commission to do all within its powers to stick to its constitutional responsibilities as an unbiased umpire.
Akinjo who represents Ilaje/Ese-Odo in Ondo State said, “INEC’s constitutional responsibilities have nothing to do with political parties but Nigeria as a nation.
“Democracy is dynamic anywhere in the world.’’
Akinjo urged INEC staff to adopt new methods that would improve the performance of the commission in the forthcoming elections.
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