Continous Voter Registration: No Extension Of Second Phase, People Who Missed Exercise To Be Given Another Chance Later – INEC

BEVERLY HILLS, August 26, (THEWILL) - The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Monday that it has noted with concern the agitation in some quarters for an extension of the second phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), which ended on Monday, August 25.

This phase of the exercise, which commenced on Wednesday, August 20, according to INEC, involved the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and 11 states namely Yobe, Bauchi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kwara, Anambra, Ebonyi, Ondo, Oyo Delta and Cross River.

“Much as the Commission is eager to ensure that all legitimate persons who are yet to register as voters have the opportunity to do so, it is logistically impossible to extend this phase of the CVR beyond its scheduled deadline (i.e., Monday, August 25th, 2014),” the electoral body said in a statement signed by Kayode Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman, Prof.Attahiru Jega.

INEC however said that in order to give fair chance to legitimate registrants, it will on a date to be announced later, set up registration points at its Local Government Areas (LGA)offices where people who are yet to register can go and do so.

“INEC notes with deep regret that old tendencies towards irregularity,such as partisans urging people to come out and do multiple registrations, largely accounted for the crowd clusters lingering at registration points set up for the CVR by the Commission. “Many other people who have relocated since the last registration exercise and only needed to apply for their registration status to be transferred to their new location also turned up for fresh registration,” the statement said.

According to the statement, “When data are consolidated and de-duplication is carried out by INEC, all instances of multiple registrations will yet be eliminated. But, unfortunately, these sets of people obstructed legitimate registrants from having their turn at the registration points.”

The Commission therefore appealed that anyone who has previously registered and already has his / her records in the biometric Register of Voters should avoid re-presenting himself / herself at any other place for registration, saying ” If a previously registered person has relocated from where he / she registered, he / she should simply apply for transfer of the registration data to the new location, as provided for by the electoral law.”

INEC also added: ” If anyone found his / her name on the register displayed ahead of the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), but was unable to collect his / her PVC during the distribution period, such a person should go to respective LGA office of INEC where the card will be awaiting collection by now.”

INEC urged all stakeholders in the electoral process to commit themselves to playing at all times by the rules in the collective quest to enthrone free, fair and credible elections.