Post Views: 176

Damilola Aina, Abuja

Daily Courier – The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has increased calls on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to extend the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

The organisation in a statement issued on Friday 10 June, 2022 stated that with the fourth quarter of the CVR exercise coming to an end on 30th June 2022, citizens have intensified their efforts in registering for their Permanent Voter’s Card PVC.

The statement signed by the Convener Asmau Joda and co-conveners of Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, read in part, “Situation Room has received reports of large crowds at the INEC offices across the country, lots of complaints while the pre-registrations were open on the online voters’ portal, that confirmed scheduling was not observed by officers at many INEC offices leading to people being treated as walk-in registrants and asked to queue to supply the same details already provided online.

It stated that the action has resulted to hesitations and restiveness of citizens loitering to register in long queues.

It further said that it is anxious that many Nigerians will be deterred and disenfranchised if the exercise continues this way.

“The attention of Situation Room has been called on several posts by citizens on Twitter reporting the conduct of INEC officials across the country.

“In Amawbia, Awka-South LGA – Anambra State, prospective voters were asked to sweep the INEC office before being attended to or leave if they refused.”

“In Nnewi North Local Government, another report states that the sum of 1,000 Naira is being collected for voter registration. In Aba North LGA, workers have not been to work for four months.”

The organisation also cited section 9(6) of the Electoral Act 2022 which allows for voter registration to go on till ninety days to the general elections adding that the law prevails on INEC to extend the CVR exercise.”

Daily Courier reports that INEC has deployed additional 209 machines to ease the stress of registration in Lagos, Kano and South-east states.