By John Dike, Osogbo
As large crowds continue to flood registration centres across Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, for the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr. Mutiu Agboke, has commended the residents for their patience, peaceful conduct, and enthusiasm toward exercising their civic rights.
He made the commendation on Monday during an inspection tour of several INEC registration centres across the state capital.
The visit, according to him, was to assess the on-ground realities, observe the conduct of the process, and identify any challenges faced by both the registrants and INEC officials.
Addressing journalists at one of the centres, Dr. Agboke expressed satisfaction with the high turnout of eligible citizens, describing it as a strong sign of growing democratic awareness and civic responsibility among the people of Osun State.
“I am extremely pleased with the enthusiasm and massive turnout of registrants here in Osogbo. It clearly shows that the people are ready to perform their civic duty and participate in the democratic process. I must also commend their patience and orderly behaviour, which has made the process largely smooth and peaceful so far,” he said.
The INEC commissioner, however, acknowledged the challenges posed by the overwhelming turnout and appealed to the public to remain calm and cooperate fully with INEC officials.
He assured that all eligible persons would be duly registered in accordance with the numbers assigned to them at the various centres.
“We understand the pressure at some centres due to the large number of people. But I want to assure everyone that no eligible Nigerian will be left behind. Please be patient with our officials and follow the process as directed.
The registration is being done in batches based on tokens issued by our staff to manage the crowd effectively,” he added.
Dr. Agboke also disclosed that INEC is working relentlessly to increase capacity by deploying more staff, biometric capturing machines, and support materials across high-pressure locations to improve efficiency and reduce waiting time.
At the Osogbo Local Government INEC office, several registrants who spoke with our correspondent commended the commission’s efforts, especially under the current demand. Despite the heavy crowd, they described the process as fair, transparent, and generally smooth.
Mrs. Folake Adebayo, one of the registrants, noted: “When I arrived and saw the crowd, I thought it would be chaotic. But I must say the officials are doing a commendable job. They’re calm, respectful, and managing the situation well. I believe if we all remain patient, we will be registered.”
Another resident, Mr. Kehinde Alabi, emphasized the importance of the exercise, especially with the upcoming Osun State governorship election. “This registration gives me the power to vote and contribute to the future of this state. I urge everyone to seize the opportunity and register, no matter how long it takes,” he said.
With the Osun governorship election scheduled for August 8, the surge in voter registration has been interpreted by many as a sign of increased political awareness and readiness among the populace.
According to recent figures released by INEC, Osun currently tops the list of states with the highest number of newly registered voters, closely followed by Lagos State.
This record-breaking registration turnout is being seen as a testament to the determination of Osun residents to actively participate in the electoral process and ensure their voices are heard at the polls.
INEC has continued to reassure the public of its commitment to conducting a free, fair, and inclusive voter registration exercise, urging all eligible Nigerians to take advantage of the ongoing CVR before it officially closes.
