Politics

No extension of voter registration – INEC

By Web News 424

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has ruled out the possibility of extending the ongoing nationwide continuous voter registration (CVR) insisting that it will close on the thirty-first of this month as scheduled.

Mr Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner in charge of Voter Education and Publicity, made this known in Awka, Anambra State.

He noted that CVR would be brought to an end to allow the commission to carry out other constitutional responsibilities.

Mr Okoye explained that the commission would make available all PVCs for those who registered or transferred voters between January and June of this year in October.

INEC National Commissioner noted that those who enrolled between the first of this month to thirty-first would receive theirs by November this year, at various local government offices of INEC.

Kelvin Ekediegwu

News

Voter Registration : INEC Agrees to Extend Deadline- Rep

By Web News 474

Aisha Dukku, chairman of the house of representatives committee on electoral matters, says the Independent National Electoral Commission , INEC, has agreed to extend the ongoing continuous voter registration, CVR.

The electoral umpire had fixed June 30 as the deadline for the suspension of CVR across the country ahead of the 2023 general election.

The house of representatives had asked INEC to extend the deadline by 60 days.

The resolution was passed following the adoption of a motion by Benjamin Kalu, a lawmaker from Abia state.

Giving an update during plenary, Dukku said INEC Chairman, Mahmoud Yakubu, would soon release a statement about the extension.

“He has already agreed to extend but for the court injunction he is to appear on the 29th of June,” she said.

“That notwithstanding, he said it has been guaranteed that it has to be extended, and not just extending but also it would additionally be done during weekends. He has agreed to that and that he is going to make a statement very soon to that effect.

That extension also involves additional machines, additional ad-hoc staff, and of course, he’s going to collaborate with the security agencies to make sure that is also done.

“So all the prayers of the motion were approved and all members of the committee were there, including the mover of the motion.”

Cable/Taiwo Akinola

Politics

Court Stops INEC from Ending Voter Registration

By Web News 474

The Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission from ending voter registration on June 30, 2022.

Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon, Court 10, on Monday granted an order of interim injunction following the hearing of an argument on motion exparte by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project.

SERAP and 185 concerned Nigerians had early this month filed the lawsuit against INEC asking the court to “declare unconstitutional, illegal, and incompatible with international standards the failure of the electoral body to extend the deadline for voter registration to allow eligible Nigerians to exercise their rights.”

In the suit, SERAP had asked the court for “an order restraining INEC, its agents, privies, assigns, or any other person(s) claiming through it from discontinuing the continuous voters’ registration exercise from the 30th June 2022 or any other date pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”

The suit is adjourned to 29th June, 2022 for the hearing of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction.

The suit followed the decision by INEC to extend the deadline for the conduct of primaries by political parties by six days, from June 3 to June 9. But the commission failed to also extend the online pre-registration which ended May 30 2022 and the Continuous Voter Registration ending June 30, 2022.

In the suit number FHC/L/CS/1034/2022 filed at the Federal High Court, Lagos, and transferred to Abuja, SERAP is asking the court to determine “whether the failure of INEC to extend the deadline for voter registration is not a violation of Nigerian Constitution, 1999, as amended, the Electoral Act, and international standards.”

Punch/Taiwo Akinola

Politics

House of Rep to INEC; Extend Voters’ Registration

By Web News 362

The House of Representatives has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,  to extend the June 30, 2022, deadline for voter registration by 60 days, to enable more eligible Nigerians to register and get their Permanent Voter Card for the 2023 general elections.

The resolution was reached on Wednesday, June 15, following the adoption of a motion passed by Benjamin Kalu, a lawmaker from Abia state. He noted that the extension of the voter registration will enable many eligible Nigerians to get registered.

Mr Kalu said; “The large numbers of unregistered eligible voters willing to be registered as evidenced by crowd seen at various registration centres resulting in congestion.

“Reports of shortages of voter registration machines, inadequate manpower and personnel at registration centres which may lead to frustrations among prospective registrants and in some cases, unrest at some registration centres.

“The right to vote is critically important to the health and legitimacy of our democracy, as well as electoral integrity.”

The motion was adopted when it was put to a voice vote by the speaker of the house, Femi Gbajabiamila,

 The house committee on electoral matters was then directed to engage INEC and ensure that the deadline for voter registration is extended by 60 days. They were also asked to engage with INEC to “examine and proffer solutions to the shortage of registration machines and manpower.”

The committee is to report back within two weeks for further legislative action.

Omotola Oguneye