INEC Commences Nationwide Voter Registration April 27
INEC
Commences Nationwide Voter Registration April 27
The Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will commence a nationwide continuous voter
registration on April 27 across the 774 local government areas of the
federation.
The commission disclosed this in a statement
signed by Mrs Amina Zakari, INEC National Commissioner, after a meeting with
Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECS) and Administrative Secretaries from the
36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
It stated that the exercise would take place from
9 a.m to 3 p.m on weekdays (Mondays to Fridays), excluding public holidays.
The registration centres, according to the
statement, shall be the local government offices of the commission or such
other suitable locations as would be made public by the State Offices of lNEC.
It stated that the decision was taken at the
meeting following INEC consultations with stakeholders including political
parties, civil society organisations and the media.
“The exercise is intended to
enable citizens who have turned 18 years of age since the last registration as
well as those who did not register during the last exercise to register as
voters.
“It will allow those seeking transfer of their
registration from one State to another or within a State from polling unit to
another to do so.
“The exercise also intends to enable the
distribution of uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to those who could not
collect them before or since the last general elections.
“It will also enable citizens who have the
Temporary Voter Cards (TVCs) but whose names are on the register to collect
their PVCs,’’ it said.
However, the commission
advised those who were already registered not to do so again as it is an
offence to register more than once.
“The commission wishes to reiterate its
commitment to consolidating our democracy.
“This we are going to do by ensuring that
citizens are given the opportunity to register as voters on a continuous basis
as enshrined in the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) well before elections.”
It therefore appealed to all
citizens to cooperate with the commission to ensure the success of the
exercise.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had
earlier said the registration exercise would continue to be a routine exercise
once it commenced.
