INEC insists on July 31 deadline for voter registration

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says the deadline for the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise remains July 31.

The FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner, Yahaya Bello, said this at a news conference on the commission’s preparedness for the 2023 general elections.

Mr Bello said all CVR activities except the collection of already printed PVCs would be suspended on Sunday, July 31, adding that the commission increased the closing hours to 5:00 p.m. daily, including Saturdays and Sundays.

He maintained that those who register more than once would not get their PVCs.

“So let me appeal to people that they should always tell our staff at registration centres exactly what they want to do, whether they have never registered before, they have lost their cards, or it is defaced, or they want a transfer from one place to another,” he added.

He said the commission, on Monday, July 25, began special registration for persons with disabilities at the designated CVR centres to ensure inclusivity and explain that both PWDs and other Nigerians could use the under-listed centres.

“The CVR centres remain City Centre – Diplomatic Park, Area 1, Gwarinpa GSS Life Camp, Wuse GSS Zone 3, Kabusa Primary School and Lugbe Primary School.

“Others are Giwa – Gwagwa Primary School, GUI – Gosa Primary School, Karshi – Karshi Development Centre, Orozo – Orozo Primary School.

“The rest are: Nyanya – G.S.S Nyanya, Kubwa – L.E.A Primary School Kubwa,  Dutse-Aljaji – L.E.A Primary School Dutse, L.E.A Primary School, Dawaki L.E.A and Primary School, Mpape.”

Mr Bello said the commission had arranged with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to make PVC collection easier for citizens at the end of the CVR exercise, using SMS to reach them at their nearest locations.

He added that those who participated in the CVR would get their PVCs by October.

The REC said the commission had investigated the claim by residents that its staff were charging them money before registering them.

He said the commission found out that the claim was false because the people involved were not staff of the commission but those who claimed to be volunteering, and the issue had been addressed.

Mr Bello assures that the 2023 general elections will be much better than previous elections conducted in the country.

He appealed to politicians, the electorate and other stakeholders to cooperate with INEC to make it work.

(NAN)