The Nation Newspaper

Tag: CVR

  • CVR: Commission adds 1,810,253 new voters

    THE Independent National Electoral  Commission (INEC)  has added 11,810,253 names to the list of eligible voters since the start of voter registration in April,  it was learnt yesterday.

    According to the breakdown, Lagos State contributed the highest number of fresh eligible voters with 109,040  and followed closely by Rivers State with 103, 919.

    Besides,  65,001 have collected their Permanent Voters Card (PVC).

    Also, 76,256 have put in transfer request and 155,471 had their PVCs defaced.

    The breakdown of fresh voters are:  Abia, 27,251; Adamawa, 51,458, Anambra 80,439, Akwa Ibom, 74,808, Bauchi 33,817, Bayelsa, 69,019, Benue 37,991, Borno 43,351, Cross River, 67,065, Delta 70, 623, Ebonyi, 40,097; Enugu, 68,687; Edo, 42,305; Ekiti, 43,306; Gombe, 17,720 and Imo, 40,253.

    Others are:  Jigawa, 48,288; Kaduna, 50,545; Kano, 44,816; Katsina, 55,624; Kebbi, 53,287; Kogi 60, 608; Kwara, 25,867; Nasarawa, 46, 092; Niger, 34,472 and Ogun, 52,549.

    According to the commission, Ondo recorded 20,931 new voters, Osun, 70,097; Oyo, 62,330; Plateau, 30,964; Sokoto, 26,459; Taraba, 26,133; Yobe, 37,223; Zamfara, 22,762 and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) 14,958.

     

  • CVR: Lagos gets 25 additional centres

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos yesterday said its national headquarters had approved the creation of 25 additional centres for Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the state.

    Dr Mustapha Mudashiru, the Administrative Secretary of the commission in the state, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    Mudashiru, who had earlier given a hint of a push for more centres, said the new ones, spread across 13 out of 20 Local Government areas of the state, would become operational from July 3.

    “We have commenced a two-day training for the officers that will man these newly created centres which will commence by Monday.

    “Eligible residents of Lagos should go to these centres to partake in the ongoing registration in order to participate in future elections.

    “This will go a long way in reducing crowd at existing centres, because it is one of the challenges we have been facing,” he said.

    He said the centres were created in Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Alimosho, Eti-Osa, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Kosofe, Mushin, Ojo, Oshodi-Isolo, Somolu, Surulere, and Lagos Mainland Local Government Areas (LGAs).

    NAN reports that the two additional centres for Ajeromi-Ifelodun LGA are situated at Ibafon Primary School Wilmer and LA Primary School, Ojoo Road.

    The three additional centres for Alimosho LGA are situated at African Church Primary School, Tomia, Alagbado; Millennium Senior Secondary School, Egbeda and St. Andrew Primary School, Ipaja.

    In Eti-Osa LGA, the two new centres are at Victoria Island Secondary School and Ikota Primary School, while the only one in Ikorodu LGA is situated at ZI Primary School, Odogunyan.

    The two additional centres for Ifako-Ijaiye LGA are situated at Karaole/Anglican Primary School, College Road and Saint Kizito Primary School, Iju.

    For Ikeja LGA, the two new centres are situated at St. Peter Anglican Primary School, Alausa and Oke-Ira Primary School, Apata St., while the two centres for Ojo LGA are at LA Primary School Iba and Anglican Primary School, Ijanikin.

    The two additional centres for Kosofe are at Agidi Comprehensive High School, Agboyi-Keti and Ikosi High School, Ikosi-Ketu while for Somolu, the only additional centre is at Oke-Meta Primary School, Bajulaye Road.

    In Mushin LGA,  three additional centres are situated at AUD Primary School, Itire, Saint Martins Primary School, Damengoro Street and Saint Michael Primary School, Abiodun Street.

    The two centres for Oshodi-Isolo LGA are situated at Ajumoni Grammar School, Okota and Oba Morufu Primary School, Ejigbo.

    Surulere LGA has two additional centres located at Enitan Primary School, Aguda and Akanji Primary School, Surulere.

    The INEC boss urged eligible residents to show interest in the exercise to avoid being disenfranchised in future elections.

  • INEC explains choice of LGAs for nationwide CVR

    INEC explains choice of LGAs for nationwide CVR

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained the choice of Local Government Areas (LGAs) for the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).

    Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman stated that it is the most cost effective among the options open to the commission.

    INEC Chair also hinted that the situation will change in Anambra state to Registration Areas as a the governorship election approaches.

    Yakubu who spoke at the Commission’s mid- quarter review meeting in Kaduna Wednesday said it will cost INEC N25, 156,000.

    The provision for CVR in the Commission’s 2017 budget is N1, 216,346,068 for all VR activities, including off-season elections that have become regular since the 2015 General Election.

    Hence, INEC Boss said the LGA level is the only affordable option that can be accommodated within the current budgetary allocation.

    He said, “Although Section 9(6) of the Electoral Act empowers the Commission to determine registration centres and notify the public, what is the best method for achieving the goal of making the exercise both CONTINUOUS and ACCESSIBLE.

    “The Commission considered 3 options: 1. Polling Unit (PU) level 2. Registration Area (RA) or Ward level 3. .INEC Local Government Area (LGA) offices or   such other places as may be determined by the Commission.

    The PU level is the closest and most ideal. It will take the CVR to the door steps of citizen. There are 119,973 (approx. 120,000) PUs nationwide.  CVR has ever been conducted by the Commission at this levelThe indicative core cost for roll out at the PU level is given is N137, 467,088,080.

    Registration Areas: There are 8,809 RAs (Wards) nationwide and the cost is N21, 030,353,640.
    There are 774 LGAs nationwide and the cost implication according to him is 25,156,000.
    The Commission, he said decided to commence the exercise at LGA level based on the consideration that it is a CVR and not:—one-week.

    Other considerations, Yakubu said was that the election-eve registration exercise and registration similar to the one conducted in 2011.

    The Commission adopted a quarterly approach to the exercise in order to allow for the publication of names of new registrants (minimum of 5 and maximum of 14 days) for claims and objections as required by law (Sec. 19[1] of the Electoral Act).

    “This sequence shall continue until 60 days to the 2019 General Election when it will be suspended as required by law (Sec. 9[5] of the Electoral Act). It will resume after the General Election.”

    In the case of Anambra state Yakubu said “The CVR will be devolved to RA level as was done in off season general elections in Kogi, Bayelsa, Edo, Ondo and FCT Area Councils Elections. The date will very soon be announced by the Commission.”

  • INEC begins CVR in Kogi, Bayelsa today

    head of the governorship election in Kogi and Bayelsa states, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will conduct the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the two states.

    The registration, according to the commission, would begin today and end on September 7.

    The governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states will hold on November 21 and December 5.

    The CVR will take place at the local government area level. It will also begin daily (during the scheduled six days of the registration) from 8a.m. to 4p.m.

    INEC, in its in house bulletin, said: “The six-day exercise will afford three groups of eligible registrants to register to vote.”

    The commission explained that the registration is for those who were eligible but did not register before the 2015 general elections.

    INEC added that it is also for “those who are eligible but whose names are not in the Voters’ Register” and “those who have attained the age of 18 years since the last Voter Registration exercise”.

     

  • INEC adjusts distribution of voter cards, registration in four states

    INEC adjusts distribution of voter cards, registration in four states

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced an adjustment in the dates for the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and the conduct of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Phase III.

    According to the commission’s daily bulletin, the decision was contained in INEC decision extract dated November 25, 2014 and signed by the Director (Commission’s Secretariat) I. A. Gali.

    The bulletin stated that the distribution of PVCs in Kaduna and Katsina States will take place from Saturday, 6th December to Monday, 8th December 2014.

    The CVR exercise in these two states it further stated will take place from Wednesday, 10th December to Monday, 15th December 2014.

    The Commission also approved that the distribution of PVCs in Niger and Borno States will take place from Friday, 12th December to Sunday, 14th December 2014. The CVR exercise in these two states will take place from Wednesday, 17th December to Monday, 22nd December 2014.

    The distribution of PVCs in Rivers, Nasarawa and the outstanding local governments in Lagos State will take place from Friday, 28th November to Sunday, 30th November 2014 as earlier scheduled.

    The CVR exercise in these states will take place from Wednesday, 3rd December to Monday, 8th December 2014 as earlier scheduled.

     

  • Taraba killings: Tiv urge INEC to suspend CVR

    Taraba killings: Tiv urge INEC to suspend CVR

    The Tiv in Taraba State yesterday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to suspend the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) and the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) scheduled for October 24 to 31.

    President-General of the Tiv Cultural and Social Association James Nungwa told reporters in Jalingo that it would be risky to carry out the exercises in view of the insecurity in Southern and Central Taraba, where many residents have fled their homes.

    He said the homes of some of the displaced persons were being occupied by their attackers.

    Nungwa said: “I was shocked when INEC said security agencies, including the Police and the Department of State Security (DSS), said relative peace has returned to the affected areas in Taraba and that it has fixed October 24 to 26 for the issuance of PVCs and October 27 to 31 for CVR.

    “Peace has not returned, particularly in Bali, Gassol, Ibi, Gashaka and Wukari local government areas. Thousands of our displaced people are registered voters in various wards in the crisis areas and were issued temporary voter cards to exercise their franchise in the 2011 general elections.

    “It is sad that most of the people have been displaced and their property destroyed. In Bali and Gassol, for instance, some people who were not residents and registered voters presently occupy the homes of our people, who are displaced.

    “Attempts by our people to return to their homes have met stiff resistance by the invaders, who are still attacking and killing our people in the most gruesome manner. Our people, who are the original inhabitants and registered voters, are taking refuge in camps within and outside the state.

    “Contrary to the report that relative peace has returned and the exercises can go on as planned, the places are not yet safe for our people to return. We are also afraid that given the insecurity in the affected areas, it is not safe for INEC to carry out such exercises, which require the gathering of defenseless civilians, thereby risking their lives.

    “Any attempt to conduct the exercise as scheduled will disenfranchise most of our people and we will stop at nothing to challenge the infringement on our rights.

    “We urge the government to live up to its responsibility and restore permanent peace, not relative peace, in the areas and also chase the illegal occupants out of our homes.

    “We call on INEC to temporarily suspend the exercises in Wukari, Ibi, Gassol, Gashaka and Bali, until normalcy returns. Just two days ago, there was an attack on Sondi and Gidinwaya in Wukari Local Government, where 25 persons were killed and their homes set ablaze.

    “Fulani herdsmen are still attacking Tiv communities in Wukari, Ibi, Gassol, Bali, Gashaka and Donga local government areas, killing hundreds of people, destroying property, food stuff and displacing hundreds of thousands.”

     

    “As responsible and peace loving people, we have chosen the path of dialogue to end the killings and displacement of our people. We believe that the primary responsibility of any responsible government is the protection of life and property and we followed the government patiently to achieve that, but to no avail.

    “Even as we speak to you, the life of a Tiv man is not safe two kilometers outside Bali town, same for Gassol and Ibi local government areas.”

  • Ekiti, Osun residents urged to verify names on voter register

    Ekiti, Osun residents urged to verify names on voter register

    The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) has urged eligible voters in Ekiti and Osun states to check if their names are on the voter register.

    It urged those who have just turned 18 to register for a voter card.

    The verification of names in the voter register begins today and will end next Wednesday.

    In a statement in Abuja yesterday by its Chairman, Comrade Ibrahim Zikirullahi, TMG said: “As a critical component of the electoral process, the importance of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) cannot be overemphasised. A comprehensive, user-friendly and credible voter register is fundamental to the conduct of free, fair and transparent elections.

    “The Ekiti and Osun governorship elections have been scheduled to hold on June 21 and August 9. Majority of people in these states who are now qualified to register for a voter card should as a matter of urgent civic duty explore the current opportunity which will lapse on March 19 to cross-check and register their names.

    “The 2010 Electoral Act (as Amended) mandates the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to carry out CVR of all persons qualified to be registered voters. Preparatory to the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, INEC has, by this scheduled exercise, fulfilled that responsibility.

    “It now behooves on residents of both states to go out and exercise this important civic responsibility. Each potential applicant should go in person to a functional, active and existing registration centre with any of the following documents – birth or baptismal certificate, national passport, identity card or driver’s license, or any other document that will prove the identity, age and nationality of the applicant. It is to be noted that failure to participate will deprive one from casting one’s vote during the June and August elections.”

    TMG hailed INEC for providing a simplified on-line means for intending voters to check their names on the commission’s website.