The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, said that it has extended the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Edo and Ondo states.
This was contained in a statement by INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, which was made available to newsmen in Benin.
The extension of the CVR exercise will be from Thursday, June 6, to Sunday, June 9, 2024, to enable more eligible persons to register, following appeals by stakeholders.
The Commission took the decision after a meeting yesterday. The meeting also reviewed the ongoing CVR in Edo and Ondo states scheduled to end today.
According to INEC, the number of centres has been increased beyond the 397 wards and the two state offices in Benin City and Akure to include all the 36 local council offices of the Commission in the two states.
“More machines will also be deployed to areas identified to have peculiar needs, such as difficult terrain or communal issues. Like the Ward registration centres, detailed information on the names and location addresses of the council offices has also been uploaded to the Commission’s website and social media platforms for the guidance of registrants in the two states,” the umpire stated.
INEC appealed to eligible voters to seize the opportunity of the extension to register, transfer or correct personal information on their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) as provided by law, noting: “No further extension will be granted by the Commission.”
However, Olumekun, noted that eight days after the commencement of the CVR, a cumulative total of 120,458 new voters have registered.
He added: “Of this figure, 55,861 (46.4 per cent) are male, while 64,597 (53.6 per cent) are female. Majority of the registered voters (82,003 or 68.8 per cent) are youths (18 -34 years). In terms of occupation, 43,419 or 36.8 per cent are students, while 812 (0.67 per cent) are Persons with Disability (PWDs).”
