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Tag: Continuous Voter Registration

  • 2019: Don’t just watch; participate actively, NOA tells Lagos residents

    2019: Don’t just watch; participate actively, NOA tells Lagos residents

    The National Orientation Agency ( NOA ) on Friday urged Lagos residents not to be just watchers, but to take active part in the electoral process.

    The State’s Director of the agency, Mr Waheed Ishola, gave the advice in an interview with our news reporter in Lagos.

    He said it was through participation that they could choose their preferred leaders in the 2019 elections.

    “The participation of Lagosians in the electoral process is very important because this is the only way they can use their democratic power.

    “People need to register to be eligible to vote, because if they don’t do that, they will not be eligible to vote.

    “If you are not eligible to vote, you cannot determine those who will govern over you.

    Read Also: CAPP, NOA lead campaign for peaceful council election

    “So, you cannot sit on the fence and continually complain about bad governance.

    “The starting point for you to partake in the electoral process is to validly register as voter to be able to choose people you believe have the right pedigree as your leaders.

    “So, my advice to all Lagosians of voting age is to come out now, especially as INEC has decided to embark on vigorous Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).

    “Residents should avail themselves of this opportunity so that they can exercise their democratic rights on the next elections,’’ he said.

    Ishola also urged residents who registered but had yet to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from INEC to do so without delay.

    He urged them to get their cards at the appropriate INEC offices so they could exercise their voting rights.

    Ishola described voter apathy as a major challenge in the country’s democratic experience, saying NOA was making efforts to improve the situation in the state.

    “Voter apathy is a bit of a challenge. But we are doing our best to address that towards the next election.

    “Right now, we are on the field in different parts of the state sensitising members of the public on the need to partake in the electoral process; on the need to register as voters and go out to vote in the next election.

    “We are partnering INEC and other major stakeholders to sensitise people on the need to be part of the process.

    “Also, we have been engaging politicians at various fora on the need to sensitise and mobilise people for the next election.

    “We are addressing the issue of voter apathy within our mandate and we hope things would improve in the next elections,’’ he said.

    NAN

     

  • 2019 : NGO tasks INEC on credible elections in Ebonyi

    2019 : NGO tasks INEC on credible elections in Ebonyi

    An Ebonyi based non-governmental organisation (NGO ), Advocacy For Good Governance, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) to conduct free, fair and credible general elections in Ebonyi in 2019.

    Mr Okenwa Uka, the Coordinator of the NGO made the appeal at a media briefing on Tuesday in Abakaliki.

    According to him, the enthronement of responsible and credible leadership is achievable if the processes leading to the emergence of those leaders are free, fair and devoid of manipulation or undue interference.

    Ukah  urged INEC to shun acts that could derail the smooth conduct of the elections in Ebonyi and ensure that people’s vote counted.

    He said that the group has embarked on sensitisation of the electorate to ensure that eligible voters in the state participated in the electoral process, especially in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).

    “We are committed to ensuring that only credible, good and service oriented leaders emerged in the forthcoming 2019 general elections in Ebonyi.

    Read Also: INEC  ‘ll obey timely, legitimate Electoral Act amendment’

    “We have organised series of symposia, seminars and sensitisation campaigns to educate, sensitise and mobilise our people to take active part in the election of their representatives.

    “Good governance begins with the people taking active stand against emergence of corrupt, non-credible, wicked leaders; and the only way to do this is by active involvement in the electoral process.

    “We are appealing to INEC to ensure that the 2019 general elections were not only free, fair and credible but also to ensure that leaders emerged through popular votes,” Uka said.

    He appealed to all residents of the state who were yet to register to take advantage of the ongoing CVR to register and obtain their voter cards.

    He also urged those whose Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were either lost, defaced or have changed residency to go to INEC for update.

    “We are using this medium to appeal to every eligible electorate in the state who have lost their PVCs or whose PVCs are defaced to approach any INEC office nearest to them to have their PVCs updated.

    “The desire of our group is to ensure that no qualified adult voter is left out in the process of choosing our next political representatives in 2019, and we are committed to the ideal, “he added.

    NAN

  • INEC debunks rumours of deadline for CVR

    INEC debunks rumours of deadline for CVR

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has debunked the rumour that ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) would end on January 31, 2018.

    Head of Publicity of the commission in Lagos State, Mr Femi Akinbiyi, said in a statement on Friday “it has come to the notice of the Commission in Lagos State the rumours going round that the CVR would end on January 31, 2018.

    “We, therefore, wish to inform the people that the Continuous Voter Registration is still on.

    “In line with the provision of section 9 (5) of the Electoral Act (as amended), Continuous Voter Registration will be temporarily suspended 60 days to the commencement of the General Elections scheduled for February, 2019”.

    According to him, all eligible voters in the state, who has not registered before are encouraged to register at all INEC offices in the 20 local government areas in the state.

    Also Read: 2019: INEC fixes presidential, National Assembly polls for Feb 16

    Akinbiyi said that concerned residents could also go to other officially designated areas within the state between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. from Monday to Friday every week, excluding public holidays, for registration.

    “In response to the citizens’ plea to have centres closer to their domain, the Commission in the State has rotation plan for some Registration Centres within the Registration Areas (Ward) in each of the local government areas.

    “Also, the names of those who registered in the first and second quarters have been uploaded in the Commission’s website.’’

    Meanwhile, said on telephone that the rumour had made eligible persons to besiege registration centres daily, to register.

    NAN

  • INEC registers 68, 079 voters in Kwara; creates 10 additional centers

    INEC registers 68, 079 voters in Kwara; creates 10 additional centers

    Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) says it has registered 68, 079 voters in Kwara since the commencement of the Continuous Voter Registration ( CVR ).

    Mr Paul Atser, INEC Administrative Secretary made this known on Thursday in Ilorin while briefing stakeholders on the exercise.

    He said that the commission had created 10 additional mobile registration centres in the state to bring the exercise closer to the people.

    The continuous registration began in April 2017 in all the 36 states of the federation including Abuja.

    Atser however frowned at the low pace of collection of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) since the commencement of the registration exercise in April.

    Read also: Over 657,000 PVCs unclaimed in Oyo State – INEC

    “It was sad to note that collection of permanent voter card was at its lowest ebb since April, 2017 to date.

     “Only 3, 069 PVCs have so far been collected out of the total 242, 069 unclaimed cards after 2015 elections.

     “As we speak, 239, 000 Permanent Voter Cards yet to be unclaimed,” Atser said.

    The Administrative Secretary therefore called on the people that had registered as voters to come for the collection of their voter cards.

    He said the new registration centres were located in Ilapa in Asa Local Government, Ilesha in Baruten, Tsonga in Edu, Igbaja in Ifelodun and Iponrin in Ilorin East.

    Other centres are Oro II in Irepodun, Kemanji in Kaiama, Shao in Moro, Igbana in Oke-Ero and Kpada in Patigi.

    Atser also appealed to eligible voters who had not register for their permanent voter card to do so to enable them exercise their franchise during the coming elections.

    NAN

  • 2019 election results will be transmitted electronically – INEC

    2019 election results will be transmitted electronically – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) said on Tuesday it has developed a technology that would enable it transmit election results electronically direct from polling units to the states’ headquarters.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ebonyi, Prof. Godswill Obioma, disclosed this at a meeting with faith-based organizations in Abakaliki.

    According to him, the new technology is part of efforts by the Commission to eliminate rigging, electoral frauds and other irregularities and to ensure the enthronement of credibility and transparency in the electoral process.

    Obioma reassured the electorate that their votes would count in the 2019 general elections and urged them to participate in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration ( CVR ).

    He said: “INEC is strengthening the process of transmitting election results electronically direct from polling booths to INEC headquarters.

    “We hope that the latest technological innovation would be perfected and deployed in the 2019 general elections.

    “The new strategy would discourage politicians from ballot box snatching, stuffing of ballot boxes and indulgence in other forms of electoral irregularities.

    “The commission would do everything to ensure that votes count in 2019 and that those who would emerge do that through popular votes.

    “We have only one message and the message is that you come out and register and ensure that you collect your PVC to qualify you to exercise your franchise.”

    Read also: 2019: INEC to partner political parties for credible elections

    The REC explained that the meeting was part of conscious efforts by INEC to build strategic partnership and alliance that would be harnessed to mobilize the electorate.

    “This meeting is aimed at jointly charting strategic paths for a credible 2019 elections and to see in what best ways we can partner with the organizations to reach out to their members.

    “It is also to mobilize those who are 18 years and above to come out and register and collect their PVCs,” he added.

    Obioma explained that making the electoral process more inclusive by getting more people involved in civic responsibilities would reduce political tension and those chosen in elections would be better accepted as representatives of the people.

    He said that the commission had embarked on aggressive sensitisation and voter education since he resumed office as REC in Ebonyi on July 12.

    “We have undertaken stakeholders’ town hall meetings in all the 13 local government areas of the state where we met with the people in their localities and sensitise them to the continuous voter registration.

    “We followed the town hall meetings with the stakeholders’ village square meetings in the wards across the local government areas.

    “We listened to their views on how we can do better in our programmes to achieve greater penetration in the society,” he said.

    Reports say no fewer than 50 representatives of faith-based organisations, including Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs attended the meeting.

    NAN

  • Voter registration begins April – INEC

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Monday said the Continuous Voter Registration would begin across the country in April.

    Yakubu gave the assurance in Abuja at the commission’s quarterly meeting with the media.

    He said during the exercise, efforts would be made to ascertain dead persons on the voter register and eliminate them, adding that cases of transfers of voting points would also be handled.

    He said the commission was approaching the update of the register with all cautiousness because of its sensitivity and importance to the electoral process.

    “Election is essential based on a number of parameters. One of it is quality and credibility of voter register; the voter register is central to election,” the INEC chief said.

    “After the 2015 general elections, we are compelled to see if we can clean up the voter register. For instance, we have to remove the names of the deceased from the register.

    “But this is easier said than done because sometimes you may know that the person is dead but the process of removing the name from the system is not that simple.

    “This is simply because in some cases we receive report that candidates involve in an election were dead only for them to turn up at the commission few days later to say it is a lie that they are alive.”

    He said the commission was also working on modalities that would assist it in the distribution of uncollected 7.8 million Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) during the voter registration.

    NAN