WorldStage Newsonline– The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed increase in registeration of new voters in Edo and Ondo State ahead of the governorship elections there.
According to INEC, 119,206 new voters were registered for Edo state and 58,708 for Ondo State.
INEC had on 11th June 2024 released the preliminary figures of newly registered voters for the forthcoming Edo and Ondo State Governorship elections, cleaning up of the data using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS).
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun disclosed in statement said that the number of newly registered voters, exclude the number of applications for transfer in both state.
He said, “These figures do not include the 8,847 applications for transfer into Edo State and the 3,132 into Ondo State from other States of the Federation.
“Similarly, they do not include applications for transfer within the two States because they are already captured on the register of voters.”
According to him, the figures of the new voters and inter-State transfers were being integrated into the existing register.
He said, “In the next few days, the Commission will release the comprehensive and final register of voters to be used for the 2024 Governorship elections for each of the two States.
“Meanwhile, the analysis of new voters for Edo and Ondo States, indicating their distribution by Local Government Areas, gender, age, occupation and disability has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for public information.”
According to analysis by INEC, the new voters in Ondo State revealed that Owo Local Government Area (LGA) had the highest number with 6,104 or 10.40 per cent of the total number of 58,708 voters, followed by Okitipupa (LGA) with 4,689 or 7.99 per cent, while Akure South LGA came third with 4,466 voters of 7.61percent of the total.
Analysis also showed that females constituted 54.95 per cent or 32,261, while males were 45.05 per cent or 26,447. In terms of age group, youths between 18 and 35 outnumbered all others – 46,679 or 84.62 per cent, followed by the middle-aged (36-49 years)—6,090 or 10.37 per cent; the elderly were 2,613 or 4.45 per cent, while old citizens made up the rest: 326 or 0.56 per cent.
While in Edo State, Ikpoba/Okha had the highest number of registered voters—10,685 or 8.96 per cent of the total (119,206)—followed by Oredo LGA with 10,028 or 8.41 per cent and Ovia North LGA with 8,978 or 7.53 per cent.
At the same time, more males – 61,684 or 51.75 per cent registered, compared to females – 57,522 or 48.25 per cent. Coming to age group, just like Ondo State, youths (18-35 years) had the highest score: 81.89 per cent, followed by the middle-aged (36-49 years) – 15,409 or 12.93 per cent; the elderly (50-69 years) – 4.62 per cent and old citizens (70+) – 0.48 per cent.
