The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner in Oyo state, Dr. Adeniran Rahmon Tella, Tuesday, said the ongoing scarcity of naira notes will not affect the conduct of the general elections.
Dr Tella, who said this in Ibadan while featuring at the Oyo state NUJ Correspondents Chapel guest platform “Speak Out,” held at the chapel secretariat disclosed INEC has made arrangements with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in respect of cash for the conduct of the elections.
According to the REC, the commission is now fully ready for the February 25 and March 11 general elections; and is leaving no stone unturned at ensuring free, fair, credible and acceptable elections this year, going by its preparations so far.
“The Central Bank had promised to make cash available for us at INEC for the prosecution of the forthcoming elections. We are not going to have problem in paying our staff and adhoc staff base on this agreement by the special grace of God,” he said.
Speaking further, the REC said INEC has come up with some strategies to be embarked upon within the identified flash points in Oyo state, saying, this will form the basis on how security will be beefed up during the day of the election.
He hinted that 2,305,903 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been collected, meaning that 2,305,903 eligible voters are expected to vote in the 2023 general elections .
Dr Tella declared that of the 3,276,675 registered voters in Oyo state, only 2,305,903 PVCs have been collected so far leaving a total of 760,766 PVCs uncollected.
