With an increased awareness and desire of many Nigerians to partake in the forthcoming 2023 general elections, the Oyo State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday, recorded a massive turnout of intending registrants.
Ahead of the 31st July deadline nationwide, many residents, both young and old trooped out to use the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) period to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) PVCs ready.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the registrants included people whose PVCs had been defaced and those who wanted to transfer to other polling units.
Samuel Olumekun, INEC National Commissioner for Oyo, Osun and Ekiti, said that the exercise was peaceful and orderly in spite of the large turnout of the people.
Mr Olumekun, addressing reporters at the state headquarters of the commission in Ibadan after monitoring the exercise in some centres, said that the registrants were being attended to promptly.
He said that priority was being given to the elderly, pregnant women and those who are physically challenged.
“Generally, the exercise has been peaceful and orderly; our staff members are handling the exercise professionally and consciously the way they are attending to the registrants,” he said.
The national commissioner said the staff members were up to the task, assuring the registrants that whoever is on the queue will get registered before the exercise closes on July 31st.
“We have been asking citizens to come out and register for the last one year, this mentality of coming out at the last minute has to be discouraged.
“For one year, people refused to come out to register and now that the closure for the exercise is drawing nearer, people are trooping out in large numbers.
“But, I can assure you that the commission is up to the task.
“We are fully prepared as we have over 141 machines with which we are working throughout the state,” Mr Olumekun said.