19th December, 2014
Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta
Contrary to speculations making the rounds that the transfer voters card exercise has been stopped in Ogun, the Commission has revealed that such was not true.
It was also disclosed that those who have just attained the registration age of 18y will also be attended to as no one will be disenfranchised during the 2015 general elections.
In an exclusive interview with PM News morning, the Administrative Secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in Ogun State, Mr Dickson Atiba said the Commission has not for a day stopped the exercise, calling on the people to go straight to their various local government areas and see their officers there for necessary step to be taken.
“It can’t be true, by our electoral act, transfer matter will continue till maybe 30 days to the election and whoever wants to do transfer would just go to their various local government offices, collect their forms and fill the application. That is for those who are doing transferring cards.
“For those who were not up to 18 as at the last election and wish to get the voters card now. they should participate in our Continuous Voters registration but we know we still have enough time. Those who are not up to 18 during the last exercise, all of them will be registered to enable them participate.
“We have appealed to the Commission in Abuja to grant us an extension so as to be able to attend to other parts of the state that are yet to partake in the last exercise to do so. Our Residential Electoral Commissioner ,REC, Sam Olumekun is now in Abuja and we hope that when he returns, we will get a good news,” INEC Admin. Secretary said.
He however gave assurance that none of the eligible voters in the state will be disenfranchised during the next year general elections.
Atiba also advised political parties to sensitise and mobilise their members and supporters to go to their various local government areas and pick their voters cards as many of the cards are still lying there.
“People should partner with INEC and support us in all our activities. I want to assure every eligible voters in Ogun State that no one will be disenfranchised. And to all political parties, they should practice internal democracy.
“There are a lot of cards with our officials that are yet to be collected. We employ those who are yet to get theirs to visit INEC office at their local government to pick up all their cards. We also want to implore all political parties to mobilise their people to go out their and pick them,” Atiba stated.
Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Commission in Ogun, Mr. Ronald Dansu has revealed that Permanent Voters Card for two wards in the state have just arrived, urging the people to go out an masse to pick them.
“I want to confirm that Permanent Voters Card for Owode ward in Obafemi/Owode local government area and Ilugun ward in Odeda local government area have just been printed and they are ready for collection now. Those who did their registration from those areas should go to our offices in both the two local government areas and pick their cards,” Dansu stated.