The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says that 947,462 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were yet to be collected in Oyo State.

INEC Oyo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Adeniran Tella, disclosed this at the Oyo North Senatorial District Zonal stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday at Iseyin.

Mr Tella also decried the poor turnout witnessed in the collection of PVCs in the state ahead of the general election.

He said that without the PVC, no voter would be allowed to vote in the elections.

Mr Tella said that the stakeholders meeting was to sensitise the stakeholders to the need to ensure that all eligible voters collected their PVCs.

He noted that the Saki West Local Government Area (LGA) has the highest number of uncollected PVCs of 33,453.

Mr Tella added that Atisbo LGA has the lowest number of uncollected PVCs of 4,581 in Oyo North Senitorial District of the state.

“So far, we have received about 382,362 newly printed PVCs. More are still being expected as the commission also received quite a number of newly printed PVCs over the weekend,” he said.

Mr Tella said that INEC had converted some voting points to full fledge polling units with an additional 1,607 polling units to ensure that voters have easy access on the election day.

“With this latest development and also in line with the new Electoral Act 2022, the commission has power to assign registrants to these newly converted polling units so as to have easy access on the election day.

“In the light of this, the commission has begun the migration of voters from the populated polling units to less populated ones, taking into consideration the proximity of the affected polling units from one another.

“Display of register at each polling units will be carried out before the commencement of election for voters to know their respective polling units and for easy identification on election day.

“The commission is committed to credible, free, fair and verifiable elections supported by technology, which guarantees transparent accreditation and uploading of the polling units results on election day,” he said.

Also speaking, Caleb Adenrele, the Electoral Officer, Iseyin LGA, said that the stakeholders meeting was apt as it had exposed the stakeholders in election process to the need to intensify efforts in ensuring people of the zone collect their PVCs.

The representative of the traditional council, Iseyin, Ismail Omotoso, said that Iseyin town has more remote villages which requires special attention of INEC in the area of transportation before and during elections.

The meeting featured deliberations from the representatives of the political parties, security agencies, religion bodies and artisans, among others.

(NAN)