The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has charged the media in the country to collaborate with the electoral umpire in mobilizing citizens to participate in the upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo state.
INEC chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu, made the charge while addressing heads of media organizations during the commission’s quarterly meetings with critical stakeholders in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
He appealed to the media houses “to join us in mobilizing prospective registrants for the exercise, particularly on the need to register early and not wait until the deadline approaches when the registration centers will be inundated by eleventh-hour registrants”.
Prof Mahmood emphasized the importance of media organizations in submitting the names of their staff who would be covering the elections in good time for accreditation as the election days draw closer in Edo State, “it is also imperative to request media organizations to submit applications for accreditation to report on the election in earnest along with the required documentation for individual journalists and support staff. Doing so will enable the Commission to produce and deliver the identity cards for journalists covering the election in good time. The Commission will not entertain requests outside the deadline for the receipt of applications from interested media organizations or process requests that do not meet the criteria for accreditation”.
Governorship election
Prof Mahmood Yakubu said that due to time constraints to the Governorship elections, the Commission has decided to conduct the registration at the Ward level and State headquarters instead of the Local Government offices and a few designated centers as was the case in the past, making a total of 192 Ward registration centres in Edo State and 203 centres in Ondo State in addition to our State offices in Benin City and Akure, making a total of 397 walk-in registration centres in the two States. There will be no online pre-registration option in the two States because of time constraints.
Mahood informed the media chiefs that the Commission has published the final list of candidates for the Edo state governorship election following the conclusion of party primaries and the end of the period for withdrawal and substitution of candidates as provided in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election. “Campaign in public by political parties commenced on Wednesday 24th April 2024 and will end at midnight on Thursday 19th September 2024 i.e. 24 hours before the date fixed for the election as provided by law.”
CVR
He announced the commencement of Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, simultaneously in the Edo and Ondo States from Monday 27th May 2024 to Wednesday 5th June 2024 from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm daily including the weekend.
Mahmood explained that “The Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the two States will enable eligible citizens who are not registered voters to do so. Similarly, registered voters also have the opportunity to transfer their registration from other States of the Federation to Edo and Ondo States or from one location to another within the States. Lost or damaged voters’ cards will be replaced during the exercise. Let me reiterate that the CVR is only open to new registrants and those who seek to transfer their registration. Persons who are registered as voters should not attempt to register again as double or multiple registration is illegal”.
Prof Mahmood said the Commission will also make available the uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) for collection during the CVR and that the list of uncollected PVCs will be published in the commission’s offices in the two States and simultaneously uploaded to their website, to make it easier for voters to know the availability of the cards and identify the locations to collect them. However, no PVCs will be collected by proxy.
Vacancies
Prof Mahmood also noted the existence of vacancies in some states of the federation. He said: “The Commission would like to inform you about the existence of vacancies in four States of the Federation involving three State Assembly constituencies and one Federal Constituency as a result of the death or resignation of Honourable Members. As soon as preparations are concluded, the Commission will announce the dates for bye-elections in Khana State Constituency of Rivers State, the Bagwai/Shanono State constituency of Kano State, the Zaria Kewaye State Constituency of Kaduna State and the Garki/Babura Federal Constituency of Jigawa State” he said.
In his response the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Mr Chris Isiguzo represented by the National Secretary Mr. Achike Chude assured the INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu, and Nigerians that the media will not be found wanting.
The Edo State Governorship election will hold on Saturday 21st September 2024 while the Ondo Governorship election is slated for Saturday 16th November 2024.
Emmanuel Ukoh
