The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Oyo State has stepped up efforts to enhance voter education and public enlightenment through a renewed partnership with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council.
This commitment was reaffirmed when the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Professor Adeniran Tella, hosted the newly inaugurated NUJ executive members, led by their Chairman, Comrade Akeem Abas, on a courtesy visit to the INEC state headquarters in Ibadan.
Professor Tella described the media, particularly the NUJ, as a vital stakeholder in deepening voters’ enlightenment and ensuring the conduct of credible elections in Nigeria. He noted that continuous engagement with journalists would significantly improve public understanding of electoral processes.
The REC disclosed that INEC had already commenced the second phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Oyo State, which began on January 5, 2026, and will run until April 17, 2026.
He explained that the registration exercise would extend to all 351 Registration Areas and wards across the state. According to him, the rotational registration at the grassroots level is scheduled to last for 50 days, starting from February 9, 2026, and will be conducted daily between 9:00am and 3:00pm, excluding weekends and public holidays.
Professor Tella called on journalists to intensify public sensitisation to ensure that eligible voters utilise the opportunity to register, update their personal information, or transfer their voter registration to locations closer to their residences.
He also revealed plans to include journalists in INEC’s monthly capacity-building training programmes, describing the initiative as part of deliberate efforts to strengthen the existing collaboration between the commission and the media.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the NUJ, Oyo State Council, Comrade Akeem Abas, expressed the union’s readiness to further solidify its relationship with INEC in order to encourage effective citizen participation in the electoral process.
Comrade Abas, who was accompanied by the Vice Chairman, Abiodun Atilola; the Secretary, Temidayo Adu; and the Ex officio, Imran Khalid, stressed that sustained cooperation between INEC and the NUJ would enhance voter education and contribute to credible and transparent elections in Oyo State.
