No Extension Of Voter’s Registration Exercise -INEC

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By Emmanuel Adesuji, Abuja.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has said that it was not going to grant the request by some Nigerians for the extension of the Continuous Voter Registration scheduled to end on Monday.

INEC, in a statement on Monday, said the request could not be granted for logistics reasons.

States involved in the second phase of the CVR, which commenced on August 20, are Yobe, Bauchi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kwara, Anambra, Ebonyi, Ondo, Oyo Delta and Cross River.

Also, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja was part of the second phase of the CVR.

Kayode Idowu, the spokesperson of the Chairman of the commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said on the refusal to extend the exercise: “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).”

However, Idowu said the commission would soon set up registration points at its local government areas offices soon in order to give room for those who could not register in the second phase of the exercise.

He added: “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.

“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 strongly appeals 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:

“(i) 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.

“(ii) 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 again hereby urges 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.”