• We ’ll continue to deploy technology to deepen electoral process, says Osun REC
• Adetimehin says Aiyedatiwa ’ll transform state into great economic hub
The National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has said that with the turnout of the electorate in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Ondo State, the issue of voter apathywould not be experienced during the November 16 governorship election.
Yakubu, who expressed satisfaction with the turnout recorded for the exercise, gave assurance of the commission’s readiness to conduct a hitch-free election in the state.
The INEC boss, who spoke in Akure, the state capital, at the weekend, emphasised that he was in the state to assess the preparedness of the electoral body ahead of the poll.
According to him, since the registration exercise started a few days ago, about 20,000 prospective new voters have been registered for the exercise.
He said: “From the figures we are seeing of the registration so far since the exercise started, there has been a tremendous voter turnout.
“As of yesterday, for instance, we have about 20,000 fresh registrants and we are in the middle of the process. The new registrants do not include transfers, the collection of cards, or the replacement of cards.
“So, with the enthusiasm demonstrated, particularly by the young men, I think there will be no voter apathy in the forthcoming elections.”
MEANWHILE, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC in Osun State, Dr Mutiu Agboke, at the weekend, said the umpire would continue to explore technology to deepen the electoral process in the country.
Agboke, who also dismissed the misconception in some quarters that INEC Results Viewing (IReV) portal is the platform for the collation of results, said that collation only occurs at designated collation centres.
The Osun REC spoke during a courtesy visit to the Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Osun State chapter, in Osogbo.
He said that INEC would not leave any stone unturned in conducting credible elections.
IN another development, the Chairman of Ondo State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), Ade Adetimehin, yesterday, said that the major opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Agbola Ajayi, are no match for Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in the scheduled governorship poll.
Adetimehin, in an exclusive with The Guardian, also appealed to all the governorship aspirants of the APC to support the incumbent governor.
He said: “Governor Aiyedatiwa would run an inclusive and not vindictive administration.
He, however, thanked Senator Jimoh Ibrahim for withdrawing the court case against Aiyedatiwa’s victory at the primary, describing such a gesture as a victory before the major victory not only for the incumbent governor but also for the APC, good citizens of the state and all the aspirants.
He said the PDP could not constitute a threat to APC, urging the voters to set their priorities right during the poll, adding: “Ondo occupied a critical position in South-West and it must continue to be on the part of progressives under Aiyedatiwa.
