The Ondo State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun distributing non-sensitive election materials for the off-cycle governorship election scheduled for November 16.
During a media briefing in Akure on Saturday, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola, provided an update on the commission’s preparations for the election.
Babalola indicated that a significant portion of the non-sensitive election materials for the November 16, 2024, poll has been received.
She also announced that these materials have been distributed across the 18 local government areas of the state.
According to her, the materials are stored securely as the commission collaborates closely with security agencies to ensure their protection.
Babalola further explained that the non-sensitive election materials will be organized into Registration Areas (RAs) and polling units, with plans to dispatch them on the eve of the election.
Quoting her: “I am pleased to inform you that a large percentage of the non-sensitive election materials required for the election have been received and deployed to the 18 Local Government Offices, where they are batched to RAs and Pus levels.
“We are working closely with the relevant security agencies and stakeholders to ensure safe storage and timely distribution of these materials on the eve of election.”
The Ondo REC further disclosed that the total number of registered voters in the state is now 2,053,061.
This follows the harmonization of newly registered voters with those previously registered.
Babalola reported that there are a total of 1,034,006 male registered voters in the state, accounting for 50.36 percent of all registered voters.
In contrast, the number of female registered voters stands at 1,019,055, representing 49.64 percent of the total.
Youth voters in the state total 726,944, comprising 35.41 percent of the overall registered voters.
Middle-aged individuals who registered as voters number 721,982, making up 35.17 percent of the total registered electorate.
Elderly voters total 441,516, representing 21.51 percent of all registered voters.
Additionally, those classified as elderly, specifically those aged 70 and above, number 162,619, constituting 7.92 percent of the total registered voters.
Voters with disabilities number 1,782, which is just 0.09 percent of the total registered voters in the state.
Babalola assured the registered voters in the state that their votes would be counted.
She emphasized that all security agencies are collaborating with INEC to ensure a smooth, free, fair, and credible election in Ondo State.
Furthermore, she confirmed that the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) will be deployed at all 3,933 polling units across the state.