The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ekiti on Monday flagged off preparation for the display of the preliminary register of voters (PRVs) and collection of permanent voter cards (PVC) ahead of the 2027 elections with stakeholders’ engagement.

The programme, held at the INEC state office in Ado-Ekiti, brought together traditional rulers, party leaders, civil society organisations, the media and other relevant stakeholders.

Tiamiyu Arowolo, head of department, general administration, who represented the resident electoral commissioner in Ekiti, said the PRVs display and PVC collection will run from Friday, October 9, to Thursday, October 15.

He said that the PRVs would be displayed daily from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at registration areas (wards) and local government area headquarters, in line with Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, for the public to verify details, file claims or object to ineligible names with evidence.

Mr Arowolo described the exercise as a foundational pillar for electoral integrity and directed staff to treat all citizens equally, avoid extortion and prioritise the elderly, the infirm, pregnant women and nursing mothers.

The head of department, electoral operations, Rahman Badru, urged participants to advise against vote buying, noting that the INEC chairman had held meetings to address challenges from the last election.

Also speaking, head of department, ICT/voter registration, Titilayo Oderinde, said that objections must be backed by concrete evidence, saying that a name could be removed as deceased only upon presentation of a death certificate.

She added that PVCs for the June 20 governorship election had been printed, with collection continuing at LGA offices after October 15, and urged residents to troop out in large numbers to collect them.

The director of the National Orientation Agency in Ekiti, Oluwakemi Akomolede, described the exercise as timely.

She noted that complaints of mismatched biometrics, missing names and deceased persons were still on the register that characterised the June 20 governorship election in the state.

She pledged to mobilise the agency’s officers for adequate sensitisation and awareness in order to ensure prompt checking of the register and collection of PVCs by concerned citizens. 

(NAN)