Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has unveiled plans to re-commence Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Edo and Ondo states ahead of governorship election in the two states.
The commission said the CVR in the two states would take place simultaneously from Monday May 27 to Wednesday, June 5, 2024. INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this at the second regular quarterly consultative meeting with political parties in Abuja yesterday.
Yakubu also disclosed that aside from the ongoing registration, registered voters would have the opportunity to transfer their registration from other states of the federation to Edo and Ondo states or from one location to another within the two states.
“Let me reiterate that the CVR is only open to new registrants and those, who seek to transfer their registration. Persons, who are registered as voters, should not attempt to register again as double or multiple registrations are illegal. Lost or damaged voter cards will be replaced during the exercise, but this does require fresh registration. The CVR in Edo and Ondo states will take place simultaneously from Monday May 27 to Wednesday June 5, 2024 from 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. daily, including weekend”, he said.
He said taking into consideration the limited time for the governorship elections, the commission had decided to conduct the registration at ward level and at its state headquarters instead of local council offices and designated centres, as was the case in the past.
“This means that there will be 192 ward registration centres in Edo State and 203 centres in Ondo State, in addition to our state offices in Benin City and Akure, making a total of 397 walk-in registration centres in the two states.
“There will be no online pre-registration option in the two states because of time constraint. Each centre will be managed by two officials drawn from our regular staff and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). In the next few days, the commission will commence the training of no fewer than 794 officials for the exercise.”
The INEC chairman said that in addition to the registration of voters, the commission would make available uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) for collection during the CVR.
On Edo guber polls, Yakubu said campaign in public by political parties commenced on April 24 and would end at midnight of September 19, 2024, being 24 hours before the date fixed for the election as provided by law.
In his remarks, the National Chairman of Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yusuf Dantalle, condemned politics of bitterness, do-or-die politics and divisive politics with tendencies of undermining Nigeria’s emerging democracy.
