Electoral body says 400,000 PVCs yet to be collected in Edo

This is contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi on Wednesday in Abuja.

Oyekanmi reported the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Sam Olumekun, as saying this at a meeting of an Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security at INEC headquarters in Abuja.

Olumekun said that total number of registered voters in the state stood at 1,925,105.

`` Edo state has 18 Local Government Areas, six of which are riverine. The state has 192 Wards, 2,627 Polling Units and 4,011 Voting points,’’ Olumekun said.

He added that the ``distribution of the old PVC was done simultaneously with the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) between June 22 and 26, while distribution was continuing at the local government offices.

``New voters, numbering135, 877 registered during the exercise, but over 400,000 PVCs remained not collected,’’ Olumekun said.

Olumekun assured that there was adequate number of smart card readers to conduct the Sept.10 governorship election in the state.

He said that the commission was fully prepared for the election as it had carried out its preparations in line with the provision of the Constitution and the Electoral Act .

Olumekun said that both the publication of the Voters’ Register and the presentation of soft copies to political parties took place on Aug.11.

``To fulfill the provisions of Section 87 of the Electoral Act, congresses of political parties were monitored between June 2 and July 4, while the observation of the ongoing political campaigns started since June 2,’’ he said.

Olumekun added that the commission had also organised an enlightenment workshop when it noticed the use of hate speeches and unethical comments.

He added that the enlightenment workshop was quickly organised to remind party leaders of the sanctions applicable and the need to maintain decorum.

On his part, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike, said about 22,603 policemen would be deployed for the election, aside several officers to be deployed by other security agencies.

Ezike added that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) was advised at a recent meeting to shelve the conduct of the 2016 Nov/Dec Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), scheduled for the election day.

He said that movement would be restricted in the state, it would be impossible for candidates writing the examination to move about to their respective centres.

He added that WAEC was also advised to relocate the candidates to nearby states for the examination.

Ezike, who described the election as a litmus test for the new Inspector-General of Police, said the police in the state began preparations several months ago.

``If there is a way we can mitigate violence, our election will be conclusive.

``Since September 2015, we have made 870 arrests, while 525 suspects have been charged to court.

``Over 248 individuals have renounced cultism and some 248 small arms have now been recovered,” he added.

Ezike said that a show of force would be conducted on Aug. 31, while a number of helicopters would be deployed for surveillance purposes during the election.

``For the Edo election, we are good to go. We will not give room for ballot snatching and we will enforce the no-movement order to the letter.”

INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, who chaired the meeting, commended the Police for putting a robust security arrangement in place.

``If we can implement what you have on paper and presented to us at this meeting, then we can all look forward to a successful outing in Edo.”

The statement stated that INEC and the Nigeria Police assured that adequate logistic and security arrangements had been made put for voters to exercise their civic duties in the election.