… Extends registration exercise to include weekends
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced July 31, 2022 as deadline for the Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC, Mr. Festus Okoye Esq. who announced this in a statement in Abuja on Friday said that the decision was taken by the Commission in extraordinary session on Friday 15th July, 2022 following the judgement delivered by the Federal High Court on Wednesday 13th July, 2022 dismissing the suit filed by the Socio-Economic Right and Accountability Project (SERAP) seeking seeking an extension of the exercise beyond 30th June, 2022.
Okoye informed that the Court affirmed that “INEC is at liberty to appoint a date of its choice to suspend the CVR provided that it is not later than 90 days before the date fixed for the general election as provided in Section 9(6) of the Electoral Act 2022.”
He noted that “In compliance with the interim injunction the Court pending the determination of the substantive suit and in order to enable more Nigerians to register, the Commission continued with the CVR beyond the 30th June, 2022. For this reason, the CVR has already been extended beyond 30th June, 2022 for a period of 15 days.
“With the judgement of the Federal High Court, all legal encumbrance have now been removed. Accordingly, the Commission have taken the following decisions;
“The CVR is hereby extended for another two weeks until Sunday 31st July, 2022, thereby bringing the total duration of extension to 31 days (1st – 31st July, 2022).
“The exercise has also been extended to eight hours daily from 9.00am to 5.00pm instead of the current duration of six hours (9.00am to 3.00pm) daily and
“The exercise is also extended to include weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) as against only weekdays.
“We appreciate that the timeframe may be tight for many prospective registrants, but there is a lot the Commission is required to do under the electoral legal framework in relation to voter registration and compilation of the register that will require time to accomplish.
“For instance, the Commission is required to clean up the register to remove multiple registrants using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS).
“Consolidate the national register of voters (existing voters and new registrants) and display same on polling unit basis for each of the 8,809 Registration Areas (Wards) across the 774 Local Government Areas nationwide for public scrutiny. This lasts for a period of one week. On the basis of a new projection of 95 million voters, on the basis of 10 voters per page, the Commission has to print 9,500,000 pages for the display.
“Print millions of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) for all fresh registration and for applicants for transfer and replacement of lost or damaged PVCs.
“Ensure that there is ample time for voters to collect their PVCs ahead of the 2023 general election.
“Print the final register of voters in triplicate for the 2023 general election involving a projected 28,500,000 for accreditation and display at 176,846 polling units for national elections (Presidential and National Assembly) on 25th February, 2023 and state elections (Governorship and State Assembly) on 11th March, 2023 and
“Make copies of the updated national register of voters available to the political parties not later than 30 days to the to the date fixed for the general election.”
The INEC National Commissioner, therefore, appealed for the patience and understanding of all Nigerians as the Commission concludes the exercise which he said would resume after the 2023 general election.
He further observed that following the continuation of the exercise beyond 30th June, 2022, many of the registration centres recorded low turnout of prospective registrants.
“With this two-week extension, we appeal to eligible citizens not to wait until the last few days before the inundate the centres again to register.
“We appreciate the interest of Nigerians to register and participate in the electoral process and once again reiterate our commitment to credible and transparent election. This can only be achieved with the support and cooperation of all Nigerians”, he stated.
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