In a remarkable development, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a significant uptick in voter registration in Edo and Ondo States. Between 26 May and 9 June 2024, Edo State welcomed 119,206 new voters, while Ondo State saw 58,708 new registrations. This surge underscores a burgeoning interest in participating in the democratic process.
However, these impressive figures do not encompass all the recent changes in the voter base. Not included are the 8,847 applications for voter transfer into Edo State and the 3,132 transfers into Ondo State from other parts of the country. Additionally, the data does not account for internal transfers within these states since those voters are already registered.
Sam Olumekun mni, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), shed light on the meticulous process behind these numbers. The preliminary data, first released on 11 June, was subject to review for claims and objections. Following this, the data underwent a thorough cleansing using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), ensuring the final statistics are both accurate and reliable.
Olumekun highlighted the importance of the upcoming 2024 Governorship Elections, emphasizing that the newly registered voters are being added to the existing register. The Commission is set to release the comprehensive and final voter register soon, which will serve as the cornerstone for the elections in both Edo and Ondo States.
A detailed analysis of the new voter registrations in Ondo State reveals some intriguing trends. The Owo Local Government Area (LGA) leads with 6,104 new voters, accounting for 10.40% of the total new registrations in the state. Following Owo is Okitipupa LGA with 4,689 voters, representing 7.99% of the new registrations, and Akure South LGA with 4,466 voters, or 7.61% of the total.
Breaking down the demographics, females make up 54.95% of the new voters in Ondo State, totaling 32,261, while males constitute 45.05% or 26,447. Age-wise, the youth segment (18-35 years) is the largest group, with 46,679 individuals, or 84.62% of the new voters. The middle-aged group (36-49 years) follows with 6,090, or 10.37%, while the elderly (50-69 years) number 2,613, or 4.45%. The oldest segment (70+ years) makes up 0.56% with 326 individuals.
In Edo State, Ikpoba/Okha LGA leads with 10,685 new voters, which is 8.96% of the state’s total new registrations of 119,206. Oredo LGA follows with 10,028 voters, or 8.41%, and Ovia North LGA comes in third with 8,978, or 7.53%.
The gender distribution in Edo State shows a slight majority of males at 61,684, which is 51.75% of the total, compared to 57,522 females, or 48.25%. Age-wise, youths (18-35 years) dominate again with 81.89% of the new registrations. The middle-aged group (36-49 years) totals 15,409, or 12.93%, while the elderly (50-69 years) represent 4.62%, and the oldest citizens (70+) account for 0.48%.
The substantial increase in voter registrations in both Edo and Ondo States reflects a growing engagement in the electoral process. As we approach the 2024 Governorship Elections, the final voter register will be a crucial tool in facilitating a fair and democratic election. The figures released today not only highlight the rising interest but also underscore the commitment of the electorate to shaping the future of their states.
