The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has resumed continuous voter registration in Edo and Ondo states in preparation for the off-cycle governorship elections.
The elections are scheduled for September 21, 2024, in Edo and November 16, 2024, in Ondo.
The National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC, Sam Olumekun, in a statement on Monday, announced that the CVR began at 397 centres across the two states on Monday.
The Tide’s source reports that following the severe flooding at the INEC headquarters in Edo State, after the rain on Friday, May 24, the Commission announced a change in venue for its CVR exercise.
The flooding had resulted in significant damage to the building and its contents, as Olumekun, in a press release, quoted the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Dr Anugbum Onuoha, as reporting that both movable and immovable items, including parked vehicles, office furniture, and equipment, were submerged.
The development made the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the to state ask INEC to cancel the exercise, due to the damage to its secretariat.
The State’s Acting Chairman of the APC, Jarret Tenebe, in a statement, urged INEC to cancel the exercise due to the damage to its secretariat, materials and equipment meant for the CVR.
The electoral body, however, moved the registration centre to its office at Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of the state.
To facilitate access to registration centres, INEC distributed hard copies of the locations to stakeholders and uploaded the information on its website and social media platforms.
Olumekun said, “The Continuous Voter Registration commenced today, Monday, 27th May 2024, as scheduled. The exercise is held in 397 centres in the two states.
“However, as announced by the commission yesterday, the CVR is holding in our Ikpoba Okha LGA office located at 16, Custom Road, off Benin/Auchi Road, Benin City.
“This is a sequel to the flooding of our state headquarters, following torrential rains on Friday, last week”.
The commission released on its website and social media platforms, a short graphic of the procedure for accessing the registration centres.
Olumekun further stated that the CVR offered eligible citizens the chance to register as voters, transfer their registration, request replacements for lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards, and collect PVCs yet to be collected.
The commission encouraged all eligible voters in Edo and Ondo states to take advantage of the opportunity to ensure they got registered and ready to participate in the forthcoming elections.
“We urge all eligible citizens in Edo and Ondo states who are not registered voters to seize the opportunity of the CVR to register.
“It is also an opportunity for those who wish to transfer their registration from other states of the federation to the two states or from one location to another within the states to do so.
“Similarly, requests for replacement of lost or damaged PVCs can be made at the registration centres”, the statement said.
The commission appealed to eligible voters to come for registration early while cautioning against late-minute rush.
The registration, as observed by our correspondent, went on smoothly at the venue in Edo State on Monday.
The CVR exercise monitored in Oredo, Egor and Ikpoba-Okha local government areas showed that PVC collection was ongoing alongside the CVR exercise.
Speaking at the Ikpoba-Okha registration area, the INEC National Commissioner in charge of Edo, Delta and Cross River, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, expressed satisfaction with the exercise, while calling for patience.

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has paid the counterpart fund of N147 million for the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Project for the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND).
The State Project Coordinator, Mr John Omoruyi, disclosed this in a statement issued in Benin on Monday.
The Tide’s source reports that LIFE-ND is funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in collaboration with the Federal Government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The LIFE-ND directly supports Nigeria’s agricultural policy and the strategic framework for youth employment and job creation.
The project is currently being implemented in the Niger Delta states of Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Ondo.
Omoruyi explained that the amount, meant to create wealth, sustainable jobs, and ensure food security in the participating states, covered the years 2022 to 2024.
He added that the payment of the N147 million counterpart fund would enable the state to access funds for the ongoing transformation of the rural economy via agribusiness.
According to him, Obaseki has done well to restate his commitment to the sustainable development of the agricultural sector by promoting modern farming techniques, supporting smallholders, encouraging value addition and fostering agribusiness innovations.
“Furthermore, this feat by the Obaseki administration will not only contribute to economic growth but also enhance food security, reduce poverty and empower rural communities in the state.
“This is in addition to boosting agricultural productivity and value addition across four commodities – rice, cassava, poultry and fishery value chains”, he said.
According to Omoruyi, LIFE-ND in Edo has created jobs for 2,348 women and youth enterprises out of the targeted 4,250.
He said this was across the participating 10 local government areas and 100 communities across the state.
He disclosed the release of the counterpart fund would further create employment for more than 2,500 women and youths targeted for 2024.
The state project coordinator also disclosed that the National Project Coordinator (NPC), LIFE-ND, Mr Sanni Abiodun, had commended the governor for the prompt payment of the fund.
Abiodun acknowledged the Edo Government as the first in the country to pay the counterpart fund up to date, urging other participating states to emulate Edo State.
“This is in line with the consistent desire of the federal and state governments of Nigeria and IFAD to attain sustainable job and wealth creation as well as ensure food security in Nigeria”, he said.

Delta State Government has officially placed a ban on commercial motorcycle, otherwise known as “Okada” as a means of transportation within the state capital.
The State Government, also banned, forthwith, scrap metaI scavenging, otherwise known as “iron condemn”, in the state capital, Asaba, with immediate effect.
The State Government announced the ban through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Emu, who briefed newsmen on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori at Government House, Asaba.
Dr. Emu said the ban was necessitated by the preponderance of crime being committed with Okada and the frequently reported cases of vandalism of public facilities by the scavengers, adding that strict enforcement would commence June 1, 2024.
The SSG clarified that the ban implied that no “iron condemn” cart pusher would operate in any part of the State Capital Territory after May 31, 2024, adding that commercial motorcycle operations had also been prohibited in some parts of the capital territory not covered by earlier ban.
He said adequate sensitisation campaign would be mounted before the commencement of enforcement, noting that the ban was not targeted at any particular tribe, but in the interest of peace and security.
“The biggest news on traffic regulations is the ban or prohibition of commercial motorcycle, popularly known as Okada. All OKada riders in Delta State capital territory area, all the streets, are banned forthwith.
“If you are caught, we will confiscate and destroy the okada as well as other massive sanctions in terms of fines and a possible jail term.
“This decision has become imperative arising from the huge security challenges that we have. Our people are openly violated, families are raped and the people who commit these crimes easily run away on Okada.
“In Delta Capital Territory Development area, it’s total and outright ban in all the areas. It is important that we do this to protect the lives and property of people.
“We understand that there are some few innocent people but the preponderance of crime being perpetrated with Okada has necessitated this decision. It has been a major issue at the security council meeting severally and, thereafter, Exco concluded today.
“There are also other designated streets in Ethiope East, Ika North East, Oshimili North and South, Sapele, Uwvie and Warri South Local Government Areas affected. These regulations are being enforced since 2012, 2013, 2014, with improvements on them.
“But it has never been operational. All these regulations came at the peak of security challenges. When it was a little bit under control, it was relaxed and there was no strong sanctions to deter people. It has now become imperative that it must be enforced.
“We are going to give up till 31st of May for people to adjust and comply. Effective June 1st, all the security agencies will be engaged to enforce compliance. We will crush all the seized Okadas in the public place.
“Oshimili North and South have also, in their respective By-laws, banned “iron condemn” or scrap metal scavenging. Effective tomorrow, we expect them to wind down their activities and as from the 1st of June, enforcement will start.
“We do know the type of havoc these people have brought to the system, how our transformer cables have been vandalised and even assets in our private homes.
“We can not fold our hands as a state. Laws are always made in the interest of the larger population. We will give enough notice to them. We will publicise all the streets involved”, the SSG said.

Albert Ograka, Asaba