Voters registration: INEC meets Edo stakeholders, urges turnout for ongoing CVR exercise

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has met with stakeholders in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, urging eligible persons to turn out en-masse and participate in the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise.

Chief of Staff to Edo State Governor, Hon. Osaigbovo Iyoha, who led stakeholders to the meeting, reassured the government’s support for the CVR exercise, charging INEC to increase awareness for the exercise so as to increase registration at the grassroots.

He said: “There is a lot of work on the ground that INEC needs to do, but we must commend you in some areas that you have done well. You must get to the grassroots.

“Most persons here are members of different political parties, hence, if we tell them about your programs, they may not believe us, but the major work you, as INEC, needs to do is to get closer to the grassroots, especially as most of our people have lost hope in this process.”

“As stakeholders, we all need to do more in convincing the people to get registered and ensure they collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) when they are ready,” he noted.

The Oredo Electoral Officer, Mr. Ikpe Emmanuel Benson, at the meeting said a total number of 3,103 persons have been registered in the first quarter, while 1,014 others were registered in the second quarter.

According to him, “We called for this stakeholders’ meeting to discuss some challenges and also to help us serve you better and deliver quality services to the people of Oredo.

“In the first quarter, we registered a total of 3,103 and 1,014 in the second quarter. We just received a new INEC Voter Enrolment Device (IVED) that will enable us to serve you, people, better before, during, and after the general election.”

“We want you all to help us educate your followers to take advantage of the continuous voter registration as part of preparations for the 2023 general elections. Tell them to register in the new polling units created by INEC so that electoral materials will be sent to such units,” he charged.

Benson, however, warned against double registration by the electorate.