BY EZEOCHA NZEH
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that it would soon commence the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in the states, ahead of the September 21 and November 16 governorshiip elections in Edo and Ondo states respectively
INEC said the exercise would give opportunity to eligible voters who were not captured during the last exercise
This is as the commission has also stated that it would use the exercise to distribute the already prepared registration cards to voters who were yet to pick them at the various polling wards
The Commission noted that the CVR is only open to new registrants and those who seek to transfer their registration.
Chairman of INEC, professor Mahmoud Yakubu, who made the declaration on Monday, during a quarterly consultative meeting with political party leaders, said that the commission has decided to conduct the registration at ward level and state headquarters instead of the local government area offices and a few designated centers as was case in the past.
He also announced that the CVR in the two states will take place simultaneously from Monday, May 27, 2024, to Wednesday, June 5, 2024, from 9.00am to 3.00pm daily, including the weekend.
“As the elections in the two states approach, the commission has decided to resume the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the two states to enable eligible citizens who are not registered voters to do so. Similarly, those who are registered voters also 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 registration is illegal. Lost or damaged voters’ 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 27th May 27, 2024 to Wednesday, June 5, 2024, from 9.00am to 3.00pm daily, including the weekend.
“Taking into consideration the limited time to the governorship elections, the commission has decided to conduct the registration at ward level and our state headquarters instead of our local government offices and a few designated centers 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 constraints.
“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 at least 794 officials for the exercise.
“The locations of the registration centres as well as other relevant information have been compiled in a detailed 28-page document included in your folders for this meeting. The same information will be uploaded to our website and social media platforms for public information shortly.”
