The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Voter registration

  • INEC: no fresh voter registration until after 2019 general elections

    THOSE pushing for fresh voter registration got a reply from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday. “Wait until after next year’s general elections,” the commission has said.

    INEC debunked reports that it has commenced fresh registration of voters. It noted that the news, which has gone viral in the social media was untrue.

    Besides, the commission said voter registration will only resume after the 2019 general elections.

    Read also: 2019: We’re monitoring campaign closely, says INEC

    In a tweet @inecnigeria, the electoral body shared by INEC Director on Information & Voter Education, Oluwole Osaze Uzzi, said Nigerians should disregard the false information being circulated on the social media.

    The tweet reads: “Information reaching the commission that some persons have been circulating messages online that INEC has giving another opportunity to register for your PVC, starting on the 2nd to 10th December 2018.

    “The report is untrue and we advise the public to ignore it.”

  • INEC suspends voter registration from August 17

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has directed Resident Electoral Commissioners to suspend the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) on August 17.

    It will, however, continue after the 2019 general elections.

    INEC also directed the suspension of the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) a week to the general election.

    According to an internal memo to the RECs signed by Secretary to the Commission Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu, the decision was taken following consultative meetings the commission had with major stakeholders.

    The commission last week met with leaders of political parties, the media, civil society organisations and security agencies.

     

  • Voter registration: Praise for Dickson’s aide

    There are conscious efforts to create a leadership rebirth in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Former President Goodluck Jonathan hails from Ogbia, an oil-rich council which has remained poor and underdeveloped.

    The council has suffered from prolonged leadership defects. Most of the known Ogbia leaders saw the council as their conquered territory. They lord it over their people and derived pleasure in keeping the masses in perpetual penury. Therefore, while the masses remained poor and hungry, the leaders blossomed. They derive joy in their personal estates.

    Besides keeping the people in destitution, they ensured that the people are also denied political awareness.

    But there is an effort for a paradigm shift. Many Ogbia citizens are seeking ways to dispense with the old order. Political awareness is massively being created in the council and Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, is leading the campaign.

    As part of his efforts to politically reposition the council, Iworiso-Markson embarked on Operation Get Your Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC). As a result of his logistics support, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) relocated to the council during the continuous voter registration exercise to register eligible voters.

    To ascertain the progress of the registration, the commissioner recently visited his community in Opume. He was impressed by the turnout of people for the exercise. Youths and women turned out en masse to receive their proud son. They thanked him for all his people-oriented initiatives in the council. They described him as the light at the end of the tunnel.

    Iworiso-Markson said the INEC officials were moving round various communities and wards to mobilise people for the exercise. He said they left Otuoke for his communities to enable them to go around and present people the opportunity to register.

    The commissioner said he decided to drive the process because it was in line with Governor Seriake Dickson’s principles of political inclusion. He said the main objective was to mobilise the people and give them the opportunities to support the tendencies of Dickson in raising the new leadership for the state.

    He said: “This is the Restoration Government led by Governor Seriake Dickson. We want to see the sustenance of this government’s legacy. We want to be part of those that will bring in the new government not just by saying so.

    “We want to ensure we do that through our actions. We are determined to ensure that the tendencies that the incumbent governor supports for the next line of leadership are the tendencies that will emerge at the end of the day.

    “We are not going to do that by violence, snatching ballot boxes. But we will do that by mobilising our people and the records of the governor will speak for him.

    “People have seen these records and they want to see a continuation of that legacy. That is why we are mobilising our people to get their PVCs and cast their votes when it is most needed.”

    Besides, Iworiso-Markson argued that Ogbia had fallen in the pecking order of number of voters in the state. He also said Ogbia used to be number two in the state but fell to number five. According to him, it was time Ogbia regained its former position or even surpass it.

  • Voter registration: INEC registers 57,737 in first three days

    Voter registration: INEC registers 57,737 in first three days

    Fifty seven thousand, seven hundred and thirty seven people were registered in the first three days of the ongoing voter registration, it was learnt yesterday.

    Also, 4,913 people  have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). These were people who were unable to collect their PVCs before the last general elections.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) National Commissioner & Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee,  Prince Adedeji Soyebi said in a statement  at the end of the Commission’s  weekly meeting held yesterday.

    Soyebi said  1,820 individuals applied for transfer of Polling Units (PUs) and 1,117persons applied for replacement  of their lost or damaged PVCs.

  • Importance of voter registration, by INEC

    Importance of voter registration, by INEC

    An official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Chinwe Ogbuka, highlights the strategic importance of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) to future elections and democracy.

    One of the key activities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC preparatory to the 2019 general elections is the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).The commission  has roled out the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR). Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu officially flaged-off  the CVR in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ,while the National Commissioners launched the exercise in states in their respective zones.

    The commission derives its power for this exercise from section 10 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended), which empowers it to carry out regular updates of the register of voters through the CVR. Thus: ”Without prejudice to section 10(5) there shall be continuous registration of all persons qualified to be registered voters.”

    The decision to commence the exercise was reached last week at a meeting between the Commission and the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) held at INEC headquarters, Abuja. The Chairman had in a previous meeting during the first quarter of the year, announced that the nation- wide CVR will begin in April.

    Prof. Yakubu, while briefing the RECs and Administrative Secretaries disclosed that the Commission has come up with modalities for the CVR to ensure effectiveness efficiency.

    Of course, CVR is a regular activity of the Commission, particularly before general or governorship elections in states but some innovations are being introduced to ensure that as much as possible, capture every eligible voter who presents himself/ herself for the exercise gets registered.

    Applicant for registration shall appear in person at the registration venue with any of the under listed documents as means of identification; birth or baptismal certificates, international passport, national identity card or driver’s licence, or any other document that will move the identity age and nationality of the applicant. This is necessary if the Registration Officer doubts his/her age or citizenship.

    The CVR provides opportunity for Nigerians who have turned 18 years of age after the last exercise to register. Equally, those who could not register during any of the previous registration exercises will be registered during this year’s  CVR. Also registered voters who have Temporary Voters’ Card (TVCs) but whose names are not on the register of voters have the opportunity to be captured .

    The nationwide CVR is set out to register all those eligible voters who make themselves available for the exercise; to distribute PVCs to those who are yet to collect their cards and to attend to those who wish to transfer their registration to their present location from where they originally registered.

    The CVR  will be done at the local government area offices of the Commission nationwide  for now but this may be extended to other designated areas of the local government in due course.

    The Chairman said at the meeting with RECs that once the exercise takes off, it  will continue at the   local government until close to the 2019 general elections, ‘meaning from now till then, registration will be on- going.  The exercise will scale down to ward level as the election date approaches.’

    The Commission has made adequate arrangement to address the problems of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who have lost their PVCs due to dislocation from their homes. The issue of the IDPs is of paramount importance to the Commission as they are Nigerians who have equal right to elect their leaders. The Commission will reprint PVCs of IDPs and other persons affected by security challenges in all parts of the country, so they can vote during the elections.

    Concerned about the plight of the IDPs, and having realised their right to participate in   electoral process Prof. Yakubu noted that “so many people have returned to their communities and so many have lost their PVCs due to dislocation.’’

    Preparatory to the commencement of the exercise, the Information and Communication Technology ICT department of the Commission has carried out a three- day intensive training on Open VR software, Hard ware maintenance (laptop and accessories) and CVR guidelines for Head Of Department (HOD) ICT and Voter Registry (VR). The HOD/ICT/VR and state trainers conducted training of registration Area Officers (RAOs) at the state offices of the Commission and the training was monitored by The Electoral Institute, the training arm of the Commission, in conjunction with state offices.

    To ensure its readiness for the exercise, the ICT dept has selected sound and functional Direct Data Capture Machines (DDCMs) for the exercise. It has also updated voter enrolment software which will enable data harmonisation with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). All the DDCMs to be deployed are already purged and configured, while the register of voters used for the 2015 general elections is being updated with cases of voter transfers being addressed.

    Since the (CVR) is going to continuous, the Commission will display, on quarterly basis the Preliminary Register of Voters (PRV) for public scrutiny at registration centre for seven days before PVCs are printed. The period of display is for claims and objections, to enable registrants to cross-check their names and ensure that their details are properly captured and names are spelt correctly or to object to any name not being entitled to be in the register.

    For those who intend to relocate or have relocated to a new residence since they registered, the Commission has made adequate arrangements to ensure that they are not denied the opportunity to elect the persons of their choices.

    Such persons who intend to transfer their registration are reminded to apply to INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the state he/she currently resides through the Electoral Officer (EO) of the Local Government Area.

    While efforts are being made to capture all eligible voters across the country, the Commission advises those who are already registered not to register again,  as it is an offence to register more than once. During the period, those who have their cards damaged or lost will be replaced for them following due process.

    INEC has assured Nigerians of credible conclusive elections in 2019 but this requires the cooperation and support of critical stakeholders of which, voters are parts of.  Nigerian citizens can help in advancing the electoral process by ensuring that they get registered. So get registered, collect your PVCs, safeguard them and use them wisely during election as they constitute the necessary requirement to participate in the electoral process.

     

    • Ogbuka is Assistant Publicity Director, INEC.
  • Voters Registration: Umahi declares two days public holiday 

    Voters Registration: Umahi declares two days public holiday 

     Ebonyi state  plans to declare a two days public holiday in the state next week to enable residents to participate in the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) Exercise.
    The exercise is expected to commence Thursday (today) across the country.
    The State Governor, David Umahi gave the hint in Abakaliki after swearing in members of the state’s Law Review Committee.
    Speaking on the importance of the exercise Governor Umahi emphasized that for the political future of the state to be guaranteed, there was the need for eligible residents to obtain their voter cards.
    Chief Umahi noted that there would be a stakeholders meeting to strategize on how the state government would liaise with INEC for a smooth exercise.
    Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has called on eligible voters in Ebonyi State to avail themselves of the opportunity provided in the Continuous Voter Registration Exercise to update their data ahead of the 2019 General Election.
    The Head of INEC in the State, Mr. Charles Mbanaja made the call in Abakaliki at a press briefing to announce the commencement of the Exercise in the state
    The Continuous Voter Registration exercise is targeted at prospective voters who turned eighteen after last General Election, eligible voters who lost their cards and those who wish to transfer their registration status.
    Mr Mbanaja explained that INEC had adequately prepared for the exercise and enjoined Community Leaders and the state government to mobilize qualified persons to key into the event.
    He pointed out that the exercise would hold from 9 o’ clock in the morning to 3 o’clock in the afternoon every day in the thirteen Council Headquarters of the state.

  • Voter registration begins April 27 – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the commencement of nationwide continuous voters registration exercise.

    According to a statement issued by a National Commissioner and Acting Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mrs. Amina Zakari, the exercise will commence on April 27.

    Zakari said the exercise will be conducted in all the 774 local government areas of the country on weekdays from Monday to Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

    The decision, she said was taken at a special meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), and the Administrative Secretaries from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The nationwide exercise is to allow those who were unable to register in the last exercise and Nigerians who have turned 18 years the opportunity to register for future elections.

    She added that citizens who registered but could not collect their permanent voter card before the 2015 general elections would have the opportunity to collect them.

     

  • Statistician advises FG on census

    A statistician, Dr Olusanya Olubusoye, has advised the Federal Government to adopt administrative census, rather than the current decennial, to gauge the nation’s population for effective planning and development.

    Olubusoye, the 2nd Vice-President, Nigerian Statistical Association (NSA), gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He said that decennial census was conducted every 10 years in most countries, but that Nigeria didn’t have any regular period for the exercise.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the last census in Nigeria was conducted in 2006.

    “It tells a lot about the country’s regard for the use of data for policy making, planning and development purposes.

    “We should be looking at alternative ways of conducting census, considering the challenges we have had in the past, but the truth is that most countries are moving away from decennial census.

    “They are moving away from paper census that we use to do, where enumerators will move from household to capture information about individuals.’’

    Olubusoye said that most countries, especially in Europe, had adopted administrative census.

    “They now use existing information about the citizens and information that exists in administrative records.

    “You will be surprised that everybody has information in one way or the other with one agency of government or the other,’’ he said.

    According to him, administrative census has cost benefit over the decennial type as it will eliminate the manual way of conducting census.

    Olubusoye added that administrative census only needed to harmonise existing data, saying, “For instance, data from BVN registration, voter registration, drivers’ licence, hospital records and National ID Card.

    “You don’t need physical counting; most countries depend on those database, harmonise them and remove duplications, rather than waiting for 10 years.’’

    He said that the cost of conducting physical counting was enormous, and that it was the reason why the country could not afford it.

    “The logistic of implementing physical counting is huge – putting security in place, putting vehicles on the roads, engaging people and so on.

    “If cost is the issue, let us go back to the database that we have and harmonise them, and we will get information to do basic planning.’’

  • Kogi, Bayelsa voter registration to hold Sept. 2

    Kogi, Bayelsa voter registration to hold Sept. 2

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will begin the Continuous Voter Registration in Kogi and Bayelsa states on September 2 till September 7, ahead of the governorship elections in both states.

    The commission’s daily bulletin yesterday said the registration would hold in the local government areas from 8a.m. to 4p.m. daily.

    It noted that the five-day registration was for those yet unregistered and those who just turned 18.

    “Those who were eligible but did not register before the March and April general election and those who registered but their names were not in the voters’ register”, INEC said.

    “There are also those who have attained the age of 18 years since the last registration”, it said.

    The commission urged prospective voters in both states to register so that they can vote in the elections.

    It said the commission held a stakeholders’ meeting in Kogi and would hold a similar meeting in Bayelsa on Thursday.

    Also, INEC has urged election monitors to make meaningful observations and recommendations that would further strengthen the electoral process.

    Its bulletin quoted the Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, as speaking at a stakeholders’ post-election review of gender responsiveness during elections.

    It said Osaze-Uzzi, who was represented by the commission’s Deputy Director of Publicity, Mr Nick Dazang, said INEC had benefited from the recommendation of election monitors.

    He noted that such recommendations had been factored into the commission’s plans to strengthen the country’s electoral process.

    Osaze-Uzzi said: “It is what observers say about an election that gives it credibility.

    “That is why it is always important, especially for a growing democracy like that of Nigeria, to always factor and invite observers and report the process before, during and after the election.”

  • INEC extends voter registration in Anambra, Bauchi, 10 others

    INEC extends voter registration in Anambra, Bauchi, 10 others

    The Independent National Electoral Commission on Monday extended the Phase II of the Continuous Voter Registration for seven days in 12 states.

    The extension, according to the commission’s daily bulletin in Abuja, begins from September 28.

    It noted that the exercise was taking place at the local government areas of the affected states from 8 am to 4pm daily.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the affected states are – Anambra, Bauchi, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, FCT, Jigawa, Kwara, Ondo, Oyo, Sokoto and Yobe.

    “The extension of Phase II of the exercise is occasioned by the large turnout of eligible voters and the heavy rains that coincided with the exercise which took place from August 20 to 25,’’ the commission added.

    INEC, however, advised eligible voters in the affected states to take advantage of the extension to register, to enable them to vote in the 2015 general election.