2023: Reps seek 2 months extension of voter registration
As preparations towards the 2023 general elections in Nigeria gather momentum, the House of Representatives has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to extend the voter registration by 60 days, following the adoption of a motion by Rep. Benjamin Kalu, (APC-Abia), during the plenary on Wednesday in Abuja.
The House urged INEC to extend the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise which is scheduled to end on June 30 by an extra 60 days from June 30, 2022, to enable as many Nigerians as possible to register.
Kalu noted that the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) by INEC was scheduled to end on June 30 ahead of the 2023 General Elections.
He said that the decision to suspend the voters’ registration was in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, which required INEC to suspend voters’ registration at least 60 days before an election
READ ALSO: INEC says deadline for voters registration not extended
He said that in April, INEC declared that about 42 per cent of the voter registrations recorded since the commencement of CVR on the 28 of June 2021, were invalid with about 20 million unclaimed Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).
Kalu also said that a large number of unregistered eligible voters, willing to be registered as evidenced by the crowd seen at various registration centres, had resulted in congestion.
He expressed concern due to reports of shortages of voter registration machines, inadequate manpower and personnel at registration centres.
According to him, this may lead to frustration among prospective registrants, and in some cases, unrest at some registration centres.
He said that the right to vote was critically important to the health and legitimacy of the country’s democracy, as well as electoral integrity.
Kalu also stated that if nothing was done to improve the shortage of voter registration equipment and extend the deadline for the voters’ registration, millions of Nigerians would be disenfranchised, which would jeopardise the integrity of the 2023 general elections.
The House, therefore, mandated the Committee on Electoral Matters to engage INEC in order to examine and proffer solutions to the shortage of registration machines and manpower.
He added that INEC should also deploy an additional 30 voter registration machines in each local government area, and train and deploy ad-hoc staff to improve the shortage of manpower at registration centres.
He further stated that security should also be provided for the ad hoc staff and report back within two weeks.
NAN
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