Group asks INEC to conduct CVR before Imo, Bayelsa, Kogi guber

A civil Society Organisation, Catch them Young Community Initiative (CATYCOI), has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) before the forthcoming governorship elections in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states.

The group said it is concerned about participation of youths in the November 11 governorship election in Imo State. Executive Director, CATYCOI, Nonso Orakwe, in a statement, yesterday, said, failure by INEC to conduct CVR before the election will disenfranchise a lot of young people in the states.

He said: “We are concerned that there are no signs whatsoever that INEC will conduct CVR in Imo, considering the short time left before the governorship election.

“Section 9(6) of the 2022 Electoral Act provides that ‘registration of voters, updating and revision of the register of voters, under this section, shall not stop later than 90 days before any election covered by this Act.’ By this section of the Act, it is mandatory for INEC to continue to register new voters until August.”

“It is imperative to note that many Imo youths have turned 18 since the suspension of the CVR exercise in July 2022. Others could not complete their registration or register at all before suspension of the last exercise.

“We call on INEC to immediately put measures in place to ensure CVR in the state. If this is not done, scores of young people will be disenfranchised.

“CATYCOI, in partnership with other organisations in the state, are ready to assist in mobilising Imo youths to register.”

The group noted that while youths constitute the majority of registered voters in Nigeria, they also constitute the highest number of citizens that are yet to register. It, therefore, called on INEC to ensure Imo youths are able to register, and have their voices heard during the November 11 governorship elections.