He specifically cautioned against the influx of foreigners from neighboring States – Ekiti, Ogun, Osun, Edo and Kogi – for the purpose of the CVR exercise.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cautioned politicians participating in the governorship election of Ondo State against mobilizing foreigners outside the State to participate or register in the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise aimed at enlisting new and eligible voters.
Olusegun Agbaje, the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), gave the warning in Akure, the capital city, at an event to formally flag off the Voter Education activities, a SaharaReporters correspondent at the venue reported.
At the event, Mr. Agbaje said that the CVR, slated to kick off on Wednesday, June 22 and end on Sunday, June 26, 2016, is strictly meant for the registration of citizens who are at least eighteen years of age.
“To be eligible for the CVR, a person must be 18 years or above and can not register during the last registration exercise. They must be a resident, employed in, or originate from the local government area (LGA) or Registration Area (RA)/Ward covered by the Registration Area Center,” he noted.
According to him, any politician caught misusing the opportunity of the CVR exercise would be arrested and face the law of the land.
He specifically cautioned against the influx of foreigners from neighboring States – Ekiti, Ogun, Osun, Edo and Kogi – for the purpose of the CVR exercise.
The REC said most of these States share boundaries with Ondo State.
“Let me use this opportunity to sound a note of caution to those who might want to misuse this opportunity by engaging in any form of illicit activity such as mobilizing people from one place to register in another place, especially in the areas that share boundaries with the neighboring States of Ekiti, Ogun, Osun, Edo and Kogi,” Mr. Agbaje said in his prepared speech.
“The Electoral Act, 2010, as amended, is very clear on what constitutes offenses during the voter registration exercise in sections 117, 120, 121, 123, and 124,” he explained.
Mr. Agbaje also warned politicians and their political parties against using underage voters for the registration of the five-day exercise.
He added that multiple registrations by proxy would not be allowed or entertained.
In preparation for the success of the CVR exercise, Mr. Agbaje explained that 396 Direct Data Capturing Machines (DDCMs) have already been configured for the 203 registration areas and 193 voting points of the State.
He stated further that 792 assistant registration officers made up of members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and INEC staff to handle the DDCMs have been recruited for the purpose of the exercise.
Our correspondent reported that the Ondo State gubernatorial election would be held on November 26, 2016.
Concerning the forthcoming poll, Mr. Agbaje had earlier advised governorship aspirants and political parties in the State to immediately halt their political campaigns.
He stated that it was not yet time as stipulated by law.
Mr. Agbaje showed disgust towards many aspirants, particularly in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for junketing the political wards of the State in a full campaign tour as against the electoral act.
“We have written to the security agencies in the State to henceforth make arrest of any aspirants or political parties contravening the 90 days before the election stipulated by the law for the commencement of political campaigns,” Mr. Agbaje said.
