Ahead of the forthcoming Edo and Ondo States governorship elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission has resume the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the two States to enable eligible citizens who are not registered voters to do so.
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.
INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu made the announcement today 13th May 2024 at the second regular quarterly consultative meeting with political parties leaders for this year following first meeting held two months ago on Tuesday 19th March 2024. The meeting which focused mainly on two issues. The first was 9 bye-elections and 38 re-run elections in 26 States of the Federation held on 3rd February 2024.
"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 registration is illegal. Lost or damaged voters’ cards will be replaced during the exercise but this does require fresh registration."he said
According to INEC Chairman, taking into consideration the limited time to the Governorship elections, the Commission has decided to conduct the registration at Ward level and State headquarters instead of INEC Local Government offices and a few designated centers as was case in the past.
He said "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."
He said campaign in public by political parties commenced on Wednesday 24th April 2024 and will end at midnight on Thursday 19th September 2024 i.e. 24 hours before the date fixed for the election as provided by law.
He reiterate to party leaders the need to continue to maintain law and order during the electioneering process and beyond. "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."
INEC Chairman also appealed to political parties and other stakeholders to join INEC 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.
He added that 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.
Prof Yakubu 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.
In his remarks, the National Chairman, Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and National Chairman for Allied People's Movement (APM), Yusuf M. Dantalle called on INEC, leaders of Political Parties, civil society organizations, security agencies, Judiciary, the media and citizens to be firm and decisive in protecting the nation's democracy and forestall political upheavals as we currently have in some parts of the country.
Dantalle noted thats this month, specifically 29th May, 2024 marks the One Year anniversary of the current elected officers, 25 years of uninterrupted democracy since the restoration of civil rule on 29th May, 1999. Sixty four Years of Political Independence and One Hundred and One Years of the formation of a Political party.
IPAC has set up its Constitution and Electoral Act Amendments Committee that will recommend aspects of the laws that need to be reviewed, and presented to the National Assembly for consideration.
Local Government autonomy is essential for the survival of democracy in Nigeria as politics is local. Citizens must be encouraged to actively participate in grassroots politics that guarantees free and transparent polls.
"The question is, How far have we gone in deepening/strengthening democracy in Nigeria. It is food for thought and calls for sober reflection in the quest for a strong, united, progressive, equitable and just democratic nation. Our hard earned democracy must be sustained. It should not be allowed to derail by the activities of anti-democratic and reactionary forces.
"We condemn in strong terms politics of bitterness, do-or-die politics and divisive politics that have tendencies of undermining our emerging democracy.
"It is unacceptable! Politicians must abide by democratic ideals, ethics and ethos, and desist from inflammatory utterances and actions that could impede our constitutional government. More importantly, political parties must adhere strictly by their constitutions in conducting congresses, primaries and conventions.
"The high expression of interest and nomination fees charged by some political parties should be reviewed despite being internal affairs of the parties. IPAC will continue to engage party leaders on this among; others that will curb imposition of candidates and boost internal democracy as we strive to make Nigeria better."he said
IPAC Chairman stressed that leaders of political parties must live by example in deepening democracy by ensuring an environment conducive for successful elections, political stability and peaceful electoral process in Nigeria. It is one way of restoring trust and confidence in the electoral system which will bolster voters turnout in elections.
"We are deeply concerned by the low voters turnout in recent years particularly in the 2023 general election. It calls for concerted effort by all stakeholders in the electoral process. For democracy to succeed, it is very important that eligible citizens are active participants. It is obvious that your vote is your voice; for your voice to be heard you must register to vote. Effective voter register ensures that citizens' right to vote is protected. It is imperative that INEC maintains updated Register of Voters in real time."
"Ahead of the forthcoming Edo and Ondo States governorship elections, it is important that voters in the two states are massively mobilized to register and participate in the polls. As the umbrella body of all registered political parties in Nigeria, IPAC will spearhead this crucial exercise in collaboration with INEC.
"In previous elections, Council would move to various states, sensitize and mobilize the people on upcoming polls, called for non-violence and urge them to shun vote buying and selling, etc with the limited funds at its disposal. With the lowest voters turnout in the 2023 general election, so much needs to be done. It is on record that the 2003 general election had the highest voters turnout because INEC released funds in 2002 to political parties to engage in voter education, sensitisation and mobilisation to register and participate in the elections.
The need to restore annual grant to political parties that was expunged from the constitution by the National Assembly, cannot be overemphasized.
Frequent cross carpeting by national and state legislators is inimical to sustainable democracy. It is the remote cause of crisis in political parties and State Houses of Assembly, particularly when legislators decamp with impunity without cogent reasons. This must stop.
Electoral Offences Commission is critical in the effort to sanitise our electoral process. The rate of electoral offences is alarming. It builds distrust and questions the integrity of elections.. Offenders must be duly punished to serve as a deterrence to others.
All eyes are on INEC to conduct free, fair, credible, acceptable and inclusive elections. With adequate preparation, functional BVAS and capacity to upload results in real time on its IReV portals, Nigerians will once more have confidence in the electoral system where every vote will be counted and count in the overall result
Present at the meeting were, Chairmen and other Leaders of Political Parties, National INEC Commissioners and Others.