By Princess-Ekwi Ajide, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has given the 31st of July, 2022 as the last day for Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).
It will be recalled that a Federal High Court had on Wednesday 13th July 2022, dismissed the suit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) seeking an extension of the exercise beyond 30th June 2022.
The Court had affirmed that INEC is at liberty to appoint a date of its choice to suspend the CVR, provided it is not later than 90 days before the date fixed for the General Election as provided in Sec. 9(6) of the Electoral Act 2022.
A statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Barrister Festus Okoye, said in compliance with the interim injunction of the Court pending the determination of the substantive suit, and in order to enable more Nigerians register, the Commission continued with the CVR beyond 30th June 2022.
The statement also noted that the time for the exercise has been extended to eight hours daily from 9.00am – 5.00pm including weekends instead of the current duration of six hours (9.00am – 3.00pm) on week days.
It noted that the timeframe may be tight for many prospective registrants, but the Commission still has a lot to do under the electoral legal framework in relation to voter registration and compilation of the register that will require time to accomplish.
The statement counted clean-up of the register to remove multiple registrants using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS); consolidation of the national register of voters (existing voters and new registrants) and display same on Polling Unit basis for each of the 8,809 Registration Areas (Wards) across the 774 Local Government Areas nationwide for public scrutiny as some of the tasks awaiting the Commission.
According to the statement, the Commission is to print 9,500,000 pages of the register for the display on the basis of a new projection of 95 million voters, which means 10 voters per page, print millions of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for all fresh registrants and applicants for transfer and replacement of lost or damaged PVCs; ensure that there is ample time for voters to collect their PVCs ahead of the 2023 General Election; print the final register of voters in triplicate for the 2023 General Election involving a projected 28,500,000 pages for accreditation and display at 176,846 polling units for national elections (Presidential and National Assembly) on 25th February 2023 and State elections (Governorship and State Assembly) on 11th March 2023; and as well make copies of the updated national register of voters available to political parties not later than 30 days to the date fixed for the General Election.
Hence, it appealed for patience and understanding of all Nigerians as the Commission concludes the exercise which will resume after the 2023 General Election.