The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will begin displaying the voters’ register and distributing permanent voter cards (PVCs) nationwide on Friday. In Ekiti State, the exercise is scheduled to run through October 15.
Ekiti Resident Electoral Commissioner Dr Bunmi Omoseyindemi urged registered voters who have not collected their cards to do so during the exercise. He spoke at its official launch and a stakeholder engagement in Ado Ekiti on Thursday. He was represented by Alhaji Tiamiyu Arowolo, Head of the Department of General Administration and Procurement.
The exercise will include displaying the Preliminary Register of Voters, hearing claims and objections, and issuing PVCs. Omoseyindemi urged residents and eligible voters “to take advantage of the window to verify their details and collect their PVCs where applicable.
“The display of the Preliminary Register of Voters will enable eligible citizens to verify their names, photographs, biometric details and other personal information, while also providing an opportunity to file claims to correct omissions, misspellings and other errors.
“Members of the public can also raise objections against entries involving alleged underage persons, deceased individuals, non-citizens or cases of multiple registration, subject to presentation of relevant evidence.
“The Preliminary Register of Voters will be displayed for seven days, from 9am to 3pm daily at designated Registration Areas and local government headquarters.
“The register will be clearly marked as the Preliminary Register of Voters to allow members of the public, political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to scrutinise it and raise legitimate claims or objections,” he said.
INEC has trained staff to manage the register display and PVC collection. The REC said, “The training for the personnel was crucial to ensure officials fully understand procedures for displaying the register and issuing evidence”.
He directed officials to act impartially and transparently, and warned against negligence, absenteeism, political bias, favouritism, extortion and unauthorised changes to electoral records.
Omoseyindemi said the exercise would be accessible to older people, pregnant women, nursing mothers and persons with disabilities.
