INEC: Over 350,000 voters failed to collect PVCs in Ondo

Rufus Akeju, the resident electoral commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ondo, says a total of 343,886 permanent voter cards (PVCs) have not been collected in the state.

The Ondo governorship election is scheduled to take place on October 10, 2020.

Addressing an INEC stakeholders meeting in Akure on Monday, Akeju added that the commission is determined to conduct a credible election.

“I want to share with you our level of preparedness and to assure you that the commission is determined to conduct a free, fair, credible  and peaceful election that meets the aspiration of the good people of Ondo, other Nigerians and the international community on Saturday, October 10, 2020,” he said.

“Voters in the state will vote for the candidates of their choice with full security. We cannot afford to fail because the consequences of such a failure are just too grave to contemplate.

“The commission is planning to conduct a very peaceful and fair gubernatorial election in Ondo state. As we speak, everything required statutorily is being put in place for the registered voters to vote for the candidates of their choice.

“In addition, adequate security has been put in place in collaboration with the inter-agency consultative committee to secure voters, election officials, accredited observers, election materials, among others, during the election.

“The simulation data in our state are as follows: Number of polling units is 3,009; number of registration areas is 203; the number of local governments is 18; number of registered voters is 1,822,346; the number of collected valid voter cards is 1,478,460, and the number of uncollected voter cards is 343,886.

“The implication of the above is that 1,478,460 voters that collected their voter cards are expected to come to the various polling units to excercise their franchise on Saturday.”