TheCable

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ondo state says it has distributed a total of 1,201,073 permanent voter cards (PVCs) to registered voters in the state.

Olusegun Agbaje, resident electoral commissioner (REC) in the state, made this known on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ meeting in Akure, Ondo capital.

He said 344,006 PVCs were yet to be collected and urged those yet to collect theirs to do so while distribution continued.

“It is important to stress at this juncture that only the PVCs would be used to vote during the governorship poll, while the smart card readers would be used for accreditation of voters,” he said.

He added that selling of PVCs or manipulation of the card was a grievous offence punishable under the law with fines and/or prison term.

Agbaje urged the electorate in the state to have confidence in INEC, saying the commission would remain unbiased, neutral and fair to all.

Fatai Adams, deputy chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, said politicians had become more aware that violence did not count.

Adams advised politicians to play the game according to the rules to ensure peace in the state during the election.

Similarly, Olanrewaju Atanlogun, chairman of KOWA Party in the state, urged INEC to tackle the inadequacy of polling units to ensure that no one was disenfranchised.

Atanlogun, who is also the deputy chairman, Conference of National Political Parties (CNPP) in the state, said INEC should also look into the security situation in the riverside areas of the state.

On her part, Rafat Momoh, chairperson, Humanitarian Activities Department of Federation of Muslim Women’s Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Ondo state chapter, appealed to parents to check their children’s involvement in the election.

According to her, the children of politicians are in other locations enjoying themselves, while other people’s children are used for violence