Off-season elections: INEC extends CVR by one week

The Independent National National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it has extended the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Edo and Ondo States ahead of the governorship elections in the two states by one week.

National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun disclosed this in a statement.

The exercise was initially conducted between 27th May and 9th June 2024.

Giving the reason for the extension to hold between Monday 22nd July to Sunday 28th July 2024, the Commission said it was to accommodate 246 applicants for Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) which it discovered that the quality of biometric details did not meet the threshold for seamless accreditation using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

Giving a breakdown of the affected 246 applicants, the commission revealed that 82 are in Edo State and 164 in Ondo State.

INEC said it took the decision to accommodate the applicants because it was “determined to give every Nigerian the opportunity to exercise his/her right to vote seamlessly during elections.”

The statement read in part:” The Commission held its regular weekly Meeting today, Thursday 18th July 2024, and considered among other issues, matters arising from the last Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Edo and Ondo States, held from 27th May to 9th June 2024.

“Following the conclusion of the exercise, the Commission displayed the register for one week (12-19 June 2024) in the 395 Wards across the two States for claims and objections by Nigerians as provided in Section 19 of the Electoral Act 2022. This manual process was followed by a further clean-up of the register using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) at the end of which the Commission discovered that the quality of Biometric details for 246 applicants (82 in Edo State and 164 in Ondo State) did not meet the threshold for seamless accreditation using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) which is a mandatory requirement for accreditation under Section 47(2) of the Electoral Act 2022.

“Although the number constitutes 0.1% of the 269,992 new registrants (pre-ABIS) in the two states, the Commission is determined to give every Nigerian the opportunity to exercise his/her right to vote seamlessly during elections.

“Consequently, the Commission is inviting the new registrants to come forward for validation of their biometric details in the same locations where they registered during the CVR. The exercise will take place from Monday 22nd July to Sunday 28th July 2024.

“The distribution of the 82 registrants in Edo State shows that they come from four LGAs. Ten are from Uwessan Ward 1 in Essan Central LGA, 2 in Emu Ward in Essan South LGA, 69 in Ofunama Ward in Ovia South West LGA and one voter in Irhue Ward in Uhunmwonde LGA.

“The 164 voters in Ondo State are from three LGAs. Eleven are from Ofosu/Onisere Ward in Idanre LGA, one voter is in Ugbo Ward V in Ilaje LGA while the rest are from Ose LGA (eight in Imoru/Arimogija Ward and 144 in Okeluse Ward).

“Before the end of this week, the affected registrants will be contacted using the mobile phones and/or other contact details provided by them during the CVR.

“Meanwhile, a comprehensive list, including their Polling Units, has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for immediate action by the affected registrants and for public information.

“At the end of the exercise next week, the Commission will provide the final detailed breakdown of the new registrants in the two states, followed by the timetable for the collection of PVCs.

“We urge the affected registrants to come forward for the validation exercise.”

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