The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to conduct a continuous voter registration exercise in 397 wards in both Edo and Ondo states ahead of the forthcoming off-circle elections in the states.
The chairman of the commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, noted that the exercise became imperative to give all prospective registrants an opportunity to participate in the polls.
Yakubu stated this at the national headquarters of the Commission in Abuja when he played host to chairmen and leaders of political parties at the second regular quarterly consultative meeting with political parties for the 2024 governorship election.
He, however, enjoined the party leaders to encourage their supporters to go out and get registered to be able to participate in the elections, stressing that they should not wait till the deadline for registration.
“As the elections in the two states approach, the Commission has decided to resume the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the states to enable eligible citizens who are not registered voters to do so. Similarly, the registered voters will 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,” the INEC boss said.
“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,” Yakubu added.
The INEC boss further stated: “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 2024, to Wednesday, 5th June 2024, from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm 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 centres 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.
“The Commission therefore appeals to political parties and other stakeholders to join us in mobilising prospective registrants for the exercise, particularly on the need to register early and not wait until the deadline approaches when the registration centres are inundated by eleventh hour registrant.”
“In addition to the registration of voters, the Commission will also make available the uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) for collection during the CVR. In the coming days, the list of uncollected PVCs will be published in our offices in the two states and simultaneously uploaded to our website. Again, we encourage those who have not collected their PVCs in the two states to seize the opportunity to do so,” he stated.
The INEC boss added that parties in Ondo State had not more than one week to nomination of their candidates after the primary election.
He advised them to comply with the deadline and reiterated that election to the vacant seats due to deaths and resignation of members would be conducted in a short while.
“Turning to Ondo State, political parties have just concluded their primaries. Eighteen (18) political parties conducted primaries monitored by the Commission. I wish to remind you that parties have one week to the deadline for the nomination of candidates which is 6.00 pm on Monday 20th May 2024 when the portal automatically shuts down,” Yakubu said.
“I urge you to adhere strictly to the deadline. Political parties have been given 23 days (over three weeks) from the end of primaries to prepare and submit the list of only two candidates (governorship candidate and running mate) to the Commission. There will be no extension of time.
“I would also like to inform party leaders about the existence of vacancies in national and state Assemblies caused by either the death or resignation of honourable members in three states and one federal constituencies across the country.
“As soon as preparations are concluded, the commission will announce the dates for bye-elections in Khana 2 State Constituency of Rivers State, the Bagwai/Shanono State constituency of Kano State, the Zaria Kewaye State Constituency of Kaduna State and the Garki/Babura Federal Constituency of Jigawa State,” he said.
