Ahead of the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the resumption of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the two states simultaneously from Monday 27th May 2024 to Wednesday 5th June 2024 from 9.00am to 3.00pm daily, including the weekend.
This, according to the commission, was to enable eligible citizens who were not registered to do so for the governorship elections holding in Edo and Ondo states September 21 and November 16, respectively.
The Commission also said registered voters would 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.
INEC Chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu stated this in Abuja Monday at the second quarterly meeting with political parties, reiterating that the CVR was only open to new registrants and those seeking to transfer their registration.
Yakubu, however, warned persons already registered as voters to desist from registering again as double or multiple registration is illegal.
He also stated that lost or damaged voter cards would be replaced during the exercise, adding that such did not require fresh registration.
“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 registrations 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 2024 to Wednesday 5th June 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 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 constraint. 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 registrants.
“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,” Yakubu said.
…On deadline
The Commission has also given political parties in Ondo one week deadline to nominate their governorship and deputy governorship candidates and forward same to the INEC portal.
After the one-week deadline which terminates at 6pm Monday, he said the INEC portal would automatically shut down, reminding the parties that no extension of time would be given.
Yakubu stated that political parties in Ondo state were 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 and added that “There will be no extension of time.”
On the Edo governorship election, the INEC boss said: “As we inch closer to election day in Edo state, it is also imperative to remind political parties of the need to adhere strictly to the timeline for the upload of the list of polling and collation agents to the dedicated portal.
“Doing so will enable the Commission to produce and deliver the identity cards in good time for the expected 76,823 polling unit agents and 3,587 ward, local government and state collation agents for the 17 political parties participating in the election.”
The INEC chairman also informed party leaders “about the existence of vacancies in National and State Assemblies caused by either 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.”