• LASIEC Mobilises Lagos Residents To Participate
Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO) has expressed worry over the poor deployment of capturing machines and manpower to Igueben Local Council of the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR).
This is even as the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has appealed to residents of the state to participate in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise being conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Coordinator, EDOCSO, Igueben Study Centre, Enabulele Larry, and Secretary, Mark Akande, spoke after visiting the INEC headquarters in Igueben, the venue of the CVR in the local council.
In a statement on Friday in Benin, they condemned the “use of only two capturing devices in a local council with over 69, 396 in population.”
The duo said their findings at the INEC headquarters revealed two capturing machines were deployed to each of the 18 local councils of the state.
They said INEC’s reason for deploying two capturing machines to each local council was not germane enough because many do not have a computer or android phone to do the online registration the commission gave as an excuse.
“What is the percentage of our people that have access to android mobile phone and other internet enabled gadgets in Edo State?” they asked.
When contacted, an INEC official in the state, who responded to The Guardian’s enquiry on the issue via a text message wrote: “There are no shortage of machines or manpower; the designated number of devices was given to all the local government, which is two devices per councils.”
Speaking through a statement on Friday, LASIEC Chairman, Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile (retd) emphasised that securing a Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) is the foundational step for any citizen looking to participate in the democratic process.
“The right to vote is the cornerstone of democracy,” she stated, highlighting the importance of the exercise for first-time voters and those who have recently moved from their initial locations. “Your PVC is your voice, and your voice must be heard in shaping the future of our communities and our dear state.”
Okikiolu-Ighile stressed that a flourishing democracy depends on citizens taking ownership of the process by registering, voting, and holding their elected leaders accountable.
LASIEC, she added, is committed to sustained voter education and awareness campaigns across the state.
The chairman also called on community leaders, civil society organisations, and youth groups to help mobilise residents and ensure that no eligible citizen is left out of the registration process.
