Edo, Ondo Gov Election: INEC Extends Registration Of Voters By One Week, Now To End June 9

By Ayodele Oni

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has extended, by one week, the registration of voters in Edo and Ondo states.

The exercise earlier scheduled to end on 5th June, will now stop on the 9th of same month.

National commissioner of INEC in charge of voter education, Sam Olumekun in a statement on Abuja stated that “the commission met today Tuesday 4th June 2024.

“Among other matters, the meeting reviewed the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Edo and Ondo States scheduled to end tomorrow Wednesday 5th June 2024.

“However, following appeals by stakeholders, the Commission has approved the extension of the exercise from Thursday 6th to Sunday 9th June 2024 to enable more eligible persons to register.

“Similarly, the duration of the exercise is extended from 9.00am – 5.00pm daily.

“Furthermore, the number of centres has been increased beyond the 397 wards and the two State offices in Benin City and Akure to include all the 36 Local Government offices of the Commission in the two States.

“More machines will also be deployed to areas identified to have peculiar needs such as difficult terrain or communal issues.

“Like the Ward registration centers, detailed information on the names and location addresses of the LGA offices have also been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for the guidance of registrants in the two States.”

The Commission noted that the exercise is progressing well in the two States.

“As at yesterday, Monday 3rd June 2024, eight days after the commencement of the CVR, a cumulative total of 120,458 new voters have registered.

“Of this figure, 55,861 (46.4%) are male while 64,597 (53.6%) are female. Majority of the registered voters (82,003 or 68.8%) are youths (18 -34 years).

“In terms of occupation, 43,419 or 36.8%) are students while 812 (0.67%) are  Persons with Disability (PWDs). The public should please note that these are preliminary figures.

“The final figures will be published on State by State basis and for all categories of registrants at the end of the exercise and after data clean-up using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS).

“The Commission once again appeals to eligible voters to seize the opportunity of the extension to register, transfer or correct personal information on their PVCs as provided by law. No further extension will be granted by the Commission.”

During his just concluded your of the two States of Ondo and Edo, the chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmoud Yakubu, was confronted by protesters that were complaining of inadequate CVR machines and also wanted extension of period of registration.