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The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof . Mahmood Yakubu, said about 20,000 new voters have registered for the Ondo state governorship election fixed for November 16.
Yakubu, who expressed satisfaction with the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration in Ondo State said, the collection of both the CVR and the Permanent Voter Cards will end on June 5, 2024.
The INEC chairman Speaking to journalists at the Akure Airport on Sunday, described the turnout of Ondo people for the CVR as commendable.
Yakubu said, “I’m basically in Ondo State for two reasons. The first is to observe the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration, which started on Monday, the 27th of last month. And we have made tremendous progress based on the daily reports I have been receiving from the state office.
“The second reason is the early assessment of our readiness for the Ondo State governorship election. The election will be held in the next five months, on November 16. From the figure we are seeing on the registration, so far, since the exercise started, there has been a tremendous voter turnout.
“As of yesterday (Saturday), for instance, in Ondo, we have about 20,000 fresh registrants as of Saturday, and we are in the middle of the process. The new registrants do not include transfers, the collection of cards, or the replacement of cards. So, with the enthusiasm demonstrated, particularly by the young men, when you look at the breakdown of the figures, I think there will be no voter apathy in the forthcoming elections.”
Yakubu also reiterated that 17 political parties would be participating in the November 16 governorship poll, saying the parties had conducted their primaries and had submitted the names of their candidates and running mates to the commission.
