The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has promised to prosecute any voter who registers more than once.
Its National Commissioner in charge of Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states, Mr Ishmael Igbani, said such defaulters would be penalised according to appropriate electoral laws.
Igbani spoke at the weekend in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, at a stakeholders’ forum organised by INEC to begin the distribution of permanent voters’ cards (PVCs) and the continuous voter registration.
The national commissioner said the commission would give Nigerians a clean national voter register as one of the solutions to electoral fraud.
He said INEC had optimised the existing register by expunging 870,000 multiple registrants during the last voter registration.
Igbani said: “Some Nigerians, in their zealousness, register more than once. Sometimes, it is not their faults; sometimes, it is. Some other times, it is the fault of the machine.
“INEC frowns at multiple registration. This is a serious offence, and those involved in multiple registration will be prosecuted.
“During the last optimisation process, when the register was cleaned, it was discovered that no fewer than 870,000 persons indulged in the act.”
The INEC chief urged Nigerians, particularly those who just turned 18, to register.
According to him, credible registration is a necessary requirement for credible elections.
Igbani stressed that those who do not have their PVCs would not be allowed to vote in 2015.
He said: “We need those who did not register in the past to come and register. All those since the last exercise who have turned 18 should register as well as those who do not have PVCs. Continuous registration is allowed in the constitution.”
Bayelsa State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Edwin Nwatalari said the commission would begin two important processes ahead of the 2015 general elections.
He said: “On Friday, May 23, 2014, the commission will begin the distribution of permanent voters’ cards through a simple process involving the swapping of temporary voters’ cards with PVCs.
“For those whose TVCs have been missing for various reasons, the commission will facilitate such persons to collect PVCs by completing the attestation forms with a passport photograph. The exercise is to last three days, ending on May 25.
“Eligible to participate are those who registered as voters in the 2010 voter registration and have their names pasted at their respective polling units where distribution will take place.”
The national commissioner noted that those who fail to collect their PVCs during the exercise would have to go to the local government office of the commission to get their cards.
He said the distribution would be followed by a continuous voter registration, which would last five days, ending on June 1.
Nwatalari said Bayelsa State was one of the few states the exercise was billed to take place.
The REC said it was apposite to call on indigenes to do the state proud by making the exercise a success.
He said claims and objections were expected to be made by desiring individuals during the five days.
Nwatalari added: “The CVRE will take place at the ward level, except in those polling stations where, according to our register at the moment, records 50 votes or below. The commission intends to pay adequate attention to these areas, hence registration will be undertaken at the polling unit level.
“It is important to stress that those who have properly registered before, need not partake, as such may amount to multiple registration, which could lead to difficulties for such persons.”
Representatives of the armed forces, the para-military agencies, the police, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), among others, attended the forum.
