By Suleiman Shehu
Ibadan – Mr Mutiu Agboke, the Oyo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), says no fewer than 759,780 uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are still in the custody of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state.
Agboke disclosed this on Tuesday in Ibadan during the handing over ceremony organised for the incoming Administrative Secretary, Mr David Asemo.
He said the increase in the number of uncollected PVCs in the state was because the commission had just received another batch of PVCs from the fresh registration exercise conducted in 2017.
Agboke said the commission was intensifying efforts at ensuring that people participate in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration(CVR) and as well collect their PVCs.
He said the commission was in the second phase of the 2018 CVR to encourage more people to participate.
“The commission has registered 320,593, out of which we have 164,378 males and 156,215 females.
” We have also as at today distributed 32,061 permanent voter cards.
“The commission has transferred 23,368 Permanent Voter Cards and replaced 17,939 lost or defaced PVCs,’’ he said.
Agboke debunked the allegation in some quarters that the commission was registering foreigners ahead of the 2019 general elections.
He said there was no way INEC would allow the name of a foreigner to remain on its list and challenged anyone with genuine proof to present it.
In his remarks, Alhaji Surajudeen Ajani, INEC outgoing Administrative Secretary in Oyo State, expressed gratitude for the support given to him by the commission’s staff.
Ajani appealed to the staff to extend the cooperation and support given to him to the incoming Administrative Secretary.
Asemo, the incoming Administrative Secretary, sought the support of the staff and promised not to disappoint them.
(NAN)
