The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the new online Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) billed to commence June 28 would be undertaken for over a period of at least one year.
INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu stated this Monday in Abuja at the second quarterly meeting with media executives.
He said the success of the exercise depended to a considerable extent, on citizens’ awareness through voter education.
The INEC boss said “there will be new registrants, requests for intra-state and inter-state transfers as well as the replacement of voters’ cards as provided by law.”
While appealing for media partnership, he said, “with the relocation of voting points to underserved areas as autonomous polling units, there is need for massive publicity so that citizens are familiar with their voting locations well ahead of all forthcoming elections.”
He told the media executives that the commission had released the timetable and schedule of activities for the two major off-season governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states holding 18th June 2022 and 16th July 2022 respectively.
Yakubu said: “As you are already aware, the Commission has released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the two major off-season Governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States holding on 18th June 2022 and 16th July, 2022 respectively. We have since uploaded the details on our website and social media platforms. However, hard copies of the same documents are contained in your folders for this meeting.
“The expansion of voters’ access to polling units prepares the ground for the discharge of another important responsibility of the Commission. The registration of eligible Nigerians as voters is one of the immediate tasks before the Commission.
“Consequently, in the next one week i.e. Monday 28th June 2021, the Commission will resume the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) nationwide. In doing so, the Commission is introducing a portal to enable eligible Nigerians to commence registration as voters online before completing the exercise physically at designated centres nationwide.
“This is first time a major exercise of this nature is handled partially online consistent with the Commission’s commitment to continue to deepen the use of technology in the electoral process in Nigeria. Just like the expansion of voter access to Polling Units, the Commission appeals to the media for support so that this novel idea will also be successful.
“The CVR will be a major issue for discussion at this meeting. The Commission will demonstrate the procedure for the proposed online registration and also present the new INEC Voter Enrolment Device (IVED) to you shortly.
“We intend to undertake the CVR exercise over a period of at least one year. The success of the exercise depends to a considerable extent on citizens’ awareness through voter education. There will be new registrants, requests for intra-State and inter-State transfers as well as the replacement of voters’ cards as provided by law.
“Furthermore, with the relocation of voting points to underserved areas as autonomous polling units, there is need for massive publicity so that citizens are familiar with their voting locations well ahead of all forthcoming elections. We appeal for your partnership to achieve this goal,” he said.
NUJ president intervenes
Responding, President Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Chris Isiguzo, said partnership between the electoral body and the media would make for a fertile ground for democracy.
Isiguzo expressed happiness that INEC adopted online strategy in carrying out some of its operations in line with global realities, adding that when fully operational, the issue of malpractices plaguing the electoral system would be a thing of the past.
He noted that most of the key issues affecting the country have their roots in the electoral process, expressing the hope that those challenges would be addressed.
“I am happy that today, in line with global reality, the INEC has welcomed it and the process of digitalising our electoral system has just started and it is quite commendable.
“I believe by the time this process is effectively deepened, such issues, vices that have always remained a major challenge to the delivery of credible elections would have given way because by the time most of these activities take place online, we would have substantially addressed problems.
“And like I said during our last meeting, most of the key issues that continue to plague us as a people have their root from the electoral process.
“Once we get the electoral process right, we would have appreciably addressed major issues that confront us as a people.
“By the time electoral actors embrace the reality that if the people don’t vote for you, you will lose election, of course they will begin to pander to the capricious will of the people.
“Because of this impression that they can always buy their way through, that is why they don’t care most of the times.
“But I am happy that with the leadership that we have in INEC for a while now, things are getting a lot better.
“And I believe that we are also going to use the opportunity of the off season elections that are coming up in Ekiti and Osun to further cement the progress we have made in the electoral system”, the NUJ president said.
