Fatimah Idera

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Few months ago, INEC announced that there were still 200,000 PVCs uncollected. The uncollected PVCs represent a significant threat to democratic participation, as it means that a portion of the electorate is disenfranchised even before the election begins.

This, coupled with rising voter apathy, as seen in the Edo elections where less than 24percent of registered voters participated, indicating a deepening crisis of democratic legitimacy. Uncollected PVCs and the disallowance of apartheid citizens erode the foundation of a representative government and heighten the risk of electoral manipulation.

In a statement by the commission’s spokesperson, Sam Olumekun the Information and Voter Education Committee said the Ondo State governorship election has been scheduled to hold on Saturday November  16, 2024.

As of the 2019 elections, reports from Yiaga Africa highlighted violent trends, which significantly reduced public confidence in the electoral process.

While there is notable participation in voter registration, only 25 percent of respondents are active members of political parties, and a majority expressed distrust in the parties’ ability to represent their interests. Campaign participation is similarly low, with only 25.7 percent planning to engage in upcoming campaign activities.

Ondo recorded a 10 percent increase in the number of registered voters between the 2016 governorship election and 2020 election. Ondo Central district has the highest proportion of registered voters.

In an interview with Basheer Luqman a political expert did an analysis of poor voters registration ahead of Ondo State election by spilling the causes and solutions.

He explained that poor voter registration in Ondo State is due to lack of awareness, apathy, economic hardship and security concerns.

While speaking on the solution, the Special Adviser on the Media and Publicity to honourable member representing Ilorin West/Asa federal constituency reveals that Intensive Civic Education, decentralized registration point, simplified registration process, Economic incentives, Security measures are the solutions to put an end to aparthy over, uncollection PVC and poor level of registered voters.

However, low voter turnout, wasted resources, political disenfranchisement, potential of electoral fund contribute to non collection of registered pvc.

Although solutions to uncollected PVCS are; public awareness campaigns, extension of PVC collection periods, mobile connection units, digital notification systems, partnership with community leaders.

It is of no news that citizens participation is an important aspect of democratic governance. In the coming Ondo Governorship elections, INEC’s role should be to instill citizens’ faith in its mandate, the judiciary must reject when parties in electoral issues insist on technicalities to win their cases and ensure that the electoral choices of voters are retained at all costs.

Abdulateef Ahmed a political analyst while corroborating Basheer expatiate that the electoral process is evolving yet costing more in terms of funding, the issue of poor voter registration and uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) towards the upcoming Ondo State election is multifaceted.

“While voter registration has increased, several challenges undermine the effective participation of registered voters, and these issues must be addressed to ensure fair elections and inclusive participation

“Meanwhile, several causes had contributed to the poor voter registration and low PVC collection which are insecurity and violence in areas such as Akoko Southeast, Owo, Ilaje and several other areas that might have recorded electoral violence during elections.

Also electoral misinformation and infrastructural challenge discourage voter participation and electoral turn out in electoral process.”

The recommended solutions to this menace should be increased security of lives of voters, easy access to PVC collection, civic engagement through digital platforms, and electoral law enforcement.

 The Research Lead & Digital News Editor at News Central TV concluded that the media should report issues without bias and ulterior motives and ensure that only truth about the process, about candidates and political parties are presented to the citizens in ways and formats they can understand.