The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that the new online Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) billed to commence on June 28, would be undertaken for over a period of at least one year.
Chairman of the commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu who stated this on Monday in Abuja, at the second quarterly meeting with media executives, noted that the success of the exercise depended to a considerable extent on citizens’ awareness through voter education.
According to the INEC boss, “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 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.
“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.
“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.”
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 has adopted online in carrying out some its operations in line with global realities, adding that when it is 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.
