In a recent interview, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ondo State, shared important updates regarding the forthcoming governorship election scheduled for November 16. Speaking in Akure at a forum for reporters and on-air personalities, she announced that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) plans to deploy over 4,000 Bimodal Voter Accreditation Systems (BVAS) to ensure a smooth electoral process.
Mrs. Babalola specified that a total of 4,002 BVAS devices will be used, with an additional 812 reserved as backups. “Our goal is to ensure that the electoral process runs efficiently across all polling units in the state,” she explained, adding that 17,705 trained ad hoc staff members will be on hand to support the election.
As part of the preparations, she noted the issuance of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) has begun in Ondo State. This process started on October 17 and will run until October 21 across all 203 wards in the state. She emphasized that starting tomorrow, October 23, the cards will also be available for collection at 18 local government area offices until October 29.
Mrs. Babalola expressed concerns about the threat of fake news as the election approaches, highlighting how misinformation could lead to unnecessary tension and violence. She called on journalists to help mitigate this issue.
“We are working closely with security agencies to ensure the safety of all participants in the election, including media personnel,” she stated. “Security personnel will be deployed to all polling units, collation centers, and other strategic locations throughout the state. The safety of the media and all electoral stakeholders is our top priority, and we are fully committed to delivering a peaceful and secure election.”
Additionally, she mentioned that the workshop aims to equip journalists with comprehensive information about the guidelines, processes, and procedures governing the upcoming election, thereby ensuring full compliance with established rules.
