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Tag: Voters’ Registration

  • We didn’t deny seven million Nigerians registration – INEC

    We didn’t deny seven million Nigerians registration – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied reports in the media that it denied seven million citizens opportunity to register as voters in the last Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) Exercise.

    INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye stated this in a statement.

    He said the claim is misleading and untrue, and urged the public to disregard such stories.

    24 Nigerians filed a lawsuit against INEC with the claim that they and other seven(7) million Nigerians were not given adequate time and opportunity to complete their voters’ registration after they had carried out their registration online.

    He stated, “To set the record straight, Nigerians may recall that on 28th June 2021, the Commission introduced the online pre-registration of voters.

    “By doing so, citizens were given the opportunity to commence the registration online and then book an appointment at their convenience to complete the physical biometric capture at designated centres.

    Also Read: Why we spend so much to conduct elections; INEC

    “It was a novel idea leveraging technology to ease the registration process. This was in addition to the walk-in option at physical centres, where Nigerians can commence and complete their registration simultaneously without going through the online pre-registration procedure.

    “In the interest of transparency, the Commission provided weekly statistical updates on the exercise,” he said.

    According to him, for the online pre-registration, a total of 10,487,972 commenced the process. However, by the deadline of the exercise, 3,444,378 Nigerians completed their pre-registration physically at the designated centres in line with the Commission’s policy. Some 7,043,594 applicants did not complete the registration.

    Okoye further noted that the Commission made the information public. “This is what some people are now using to say that they were denied the opportunity when in reality they failed to either complete the online enrolment or appear physically at the designated centres to complete the process.

    “A breakdown of the 7,043,594 incomplete online pre-registrations is as follows:

    “That 4,161,775 citizens attempted but either did not complete online pre-registration or abandoned it and went for the physical registration instead.

    “And 2,881,819 registrants completed the online pre-registration but did not show up to complete the physical biometric capture at designated centres before the deadline.

    “Therefore, it is clear that no Nigerians were deliberately denied the opportunity to complete their online pre-registration,” the chairman stated.

    Okoye appealed for the citizens to always adhere to timelines against the endless agitation for the eleventh-hour extension of set deadlines.

  • BREAKING: 7 million Nigerians sue INEC over incomplete voter’s registration

    BREAKING: 7 million Nigerians sue INEC over incomplete voter’s registration

    Twenty-four Nigerians have filed a lawsuit for themselves and on behalf of 7 million other Nigerians against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for failing to give them adequate time and opportunity to complete their voter’s registration after they have carried out the registration online.

    The twenty-four plaintiffs who are suing for themselves and on behalf of the seven million other Nigerians want to “complete the registration process, so that they can obtain their permanent voter cards (PVCs), and exercise their right to vote”.

    Recall that INEC had recently disclosed that out of 10,487,972 Nigerians who carried out their pre-registration online, only 3,444,378 completed the process at a physical centre, representing just 32.8 percent of completed online registration.

    But in the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1662/2022 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the Plaintiffs are seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel INEC to re-activate its continuous voters registration exercise to allow the Plaintiffs to complete their registration and collect their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).”

    The Plaintiffs are also seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel INEC to provide adequate facilities and deploy personnel to the registration units of the Plaintiffs to enable them complete their registration and collect their PVCs.”

    The Plaintiffs are arguing that, “We have completed the online registration exercise. Denying us the time and opportunity to complete the registration for our PVCs would impair our right to vote, and deny us a voice in the 2023 elections.”

    The Plaintiffs are also arguing that, “The inability to complete our registration is entirely due to factors outside of our control. We are eligible Nigerians but unless we are given a reasonable time and opportunity to complete the registration process, and obtain our voter cards, we will not be able to vote in the 2023 general elections.”

    The twenty-four Nigerians include: Adeeyo Bayo Wasiu; Kunat Tychius Amos; Tagbo Philips Chidubem; Emeghe Uchanma Grace; Ayoola Opeyemi Ebenezer; Eche Onah Otakpa; Olatoye Clement Damilola; and Ogunejiofor Raphael Emeka.

    Others include: Adedotun Adegoke Babatunde; Emmanuel Promise Tochukwu; Emmanuel Ternajev; Joy Oluwadamilola Ige; Lawerence Ignatius; Agbede Kunle; Eze Daniel Ndubisi; and Nkemdilim Agbor Bassey.

    Others are: Omoike Iredia Oseine; Joshua Patrick Ogenekaro; Wisdom Emeka; Ukpe Victor Destiny; Abayomi Opeoluwa; Ndubuisi Anthony Ahanihu; Akande Akintunde O; and Adamma Rhodes.

    The suit filed on behalf of the Plaintiffs by lawyers to Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Kolawole Oluwadare and Ms Adelanke Aremo, read in part: “Closing the gates on eligible Nigerians cannot preserve trust in the electoral process.”

    “According to reports, the inability of Nigerians to complete their voters registration exercise or even transfer their permanent voters’ card, affected wide spectrums of persons, hence this class action by the identified plaintiffs on behalf of other affected Nigerians.”

    “There were reports of incidence of bribery, unethical conducts of INEC staff, registration process marred by irregularities, insufficient machines, malfunctioning of machines, insufficient staff and unskilled staff, before the defendant ended the Continuous Voters Registration Exercise on the 31st July, 2022.”

    “The right to vote is not merely the right to cast a ballot but also the right to be given the time and opportunity to complete the registration process, so that the right can be meaningfully and effectively exercised.”

    “Any proffered justifications of saving time and cost are therefore wholly insufficient. Administrative convenience is simply not a compelling justification in light of the fundamental nature of the right to vote.”

    “This severe vote deprivation cannot be justified by any perceived considerations of saving time, especially because Section 9(6) of the Electoral Act 2022 provides that ‘the registration of voters, updating and revision of the Register of Voters shall not stop not later than 90 days before any election covered by this Act.’”

    “Providing fresh opportunity for the Plaintiffs and seven million other Nigerians to complete their registration would promote and preserve the right to vote, and ensure that legal and eligible voters are not inadvertently and unjustifiably turned away from exercising their fundamental right to vote.”

    “The Plaintiffs are Nigerians who commenced the voters registration exercises in their respective states via successful online enrolment at the respective dates but could not complete the registration process, and obtain their voters cards.”

    “The plaintiffs also include those who are interested in transferring their permanent voters’ cards to another location so that they can vote.”

    “The Plaintiffs and other eligible Nigerians have the rights to equal treatment before the law, equal protection, non-discrimination and equal opportunities to participate in the government of Nigeria.”

    “By refusing the Plaintiffs and seven million other Nigerians the opportunity to complete the registration for their PVCs, INEC have unfairly, unreasonably, and unjustifiably denied them the opportunity to be heard at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner as to the reasons for not completing their registration.”

    “The Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) provides in Section 14(1)(c) that, ‘the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.’”

    “Similarly, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance guarantee the right to political participation, including the right to vote.”

    “The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), recently disclosed that over seven million Nigerians who carried out their voter pre-registration online could not complete the process at physical centres.”

    “According to a report released by INEC, out of 10,487,972 Nigerians who carried out their pre-registration online, only 3,444,378 Nigerians representing 32.8 percent, completed the process at a physical centre. 7,043,594 Nigerians carried out their pre-registration but are yet to complete the process at a physical centre.”

    “This represents over 67 percent of those who began their registration process online. According to INEC, a total of 12,298,944 Nigerians completed their voter registration; 8,854,566 of which were persons who did their registration entirely at a physical centre.”

    “The Plaintiffs and seven million other Nigerians have already completed their registration online, that is, via INEC online portal by providing their biodata and required documents.”

    “According to INEC, the process that is outstanding for the applicants to complete the registration for their PVCs is to visit INEC designated centres for their biometric to be captured.”

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

  • INEC fixes new date to end voters registration

    INEC fixes new date to end voters registration

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has a new deadline for the end of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

    The CVR, it said, will end on July 31 and won’t resume until after the 2023 general elections.

    The Commission earlier shifted the deadline of June 30, following an Order of Court that restrained it from ending the exercise.

    According to a statement by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, : “The CVR is hereby extended for another two weeks until Sunday 31st July 2022, thereby bringing the total duration of the extension to 31 days (1st – 31st July 2022)”.

    INEC added: “Commission met in an extraordinary session today, Friday 15th July 2022, and discussed among other things, the suspension of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).

    “This followed the judgement delivered by the Federal High Court on Wednesday 13th July 2022 in which it dismissed the suit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) which is seeking an extension of the exercise beyond 30th June 2022.

    “The Court has affirmed that INEC is at liberty to appoint a date of its choice to suspend the CVR, provided it is not later than 90 days before the date fixed for the General Election as provided in Sec. 9(6) of the Electoral Act 2022.

    “In compliance with the interim injunction of the Court pending the determination of the substantive suit, and in order to enable more Nigerians to register, the Commission continued with the CVR beyond 30th June 2022. For this reason, the CVR has already been extended beyond 30th June 2022 for a period of 15 days”.

    It added: “With the judgement of the Federal High Court, all legal encumbrances have now been removed. Accordingly, the Commission has taken the following decisions:

    “The CVR is hereby extended for another two weeks until Sunday 31st July 2022, thereby bringing the total duration of the extension to 31 days (1st – 31st July 2022).

    “The exercise has also been extended to eight hours daily from 9.00am – 5.00pm instead of the current duration of six hours (9.00am – 3.00pm) daily; and

    “The exercise is also extended to include weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) as against only weekdays.

    “We appreciate that the timeframe may be tight for many prospective registrants, but there is a lot that the Commission is required to do under the electoral legal framework in relation to voter registration and compilation of the register that will require time to accomplish. For instance, the Commission is required to”.

    Explaining the decision, the Commission said it has to among other things, “clean-up of the register to remove multiple registrants using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS);

    “Consolidate the national register of voters (existing voters and new registrants) and display same on Polling Unit basis for each of the 8,809 Registration Areas (Wards) across the 774 Local Government Areas nationwide for public scrutiny. This lasts for a period of one week. On the basis of a new projection of 95 million voters, on the basis of 10 voters per page, the Commission has to print 9,500,000 pages for the display;

    “Print millions of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) for all fresh registrants and applicants for transfer and replacement of lost or damaged PVCs;

    “Ensure that there is ample time for voters to collect their PVCs ahead of the 2023 General Election;

    “Print the final register of voters in triplicate for the 2023 General Election involving a projected 28,500,000 pages for accreditation and display at 176,846 polling units for national elections (Presidential and National Assembly) on 25th February 2023 and State elections (Governorship and State Assembly) on 11th March 2023; and

    “Make copies of the updated national register of voters available to political parties not later than 30 days to the date fixed for the General Election.

    “We appeal for the patience and understanding of all Nigerians as we conclude the exercise which will resume after the 2023 General Election”

    It continued that, “we observed that following the continuation of the exercise beyond 30th June 2022, many of the registration centres recorded low turnout of prospective registrants. With this two-week extension, we appeal to eligible citizens not to wait until the last few days before they inundate the centres again to register.

    “We appreciate the interest of Nigerians to register and participate in the electoral process and once again reiterate our commitment to credible and transparent elections. This can only be achieved with the support and cooperation of all Nigerians”.

  • Peter Obi’s Coalition urges INEC to extend of Voters Registration beyond June 30

    Peter Obi’s Coalition urges INEC to extend of Voters Registration beyond June 30

    One of the support groups for the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, under the aegis of Coalition for Peter Obi (CPO), has written the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) demanding for expansion of its voter registration and validation infrastructure to serve the teeming numbers of Nigerians willing to register.

    The group which allegedly was funded by independent professionals and intellectuals in a letter dated June 16, which was signed by its Chairman, Marcel Ngogbehei observed that no matter the number of years of extension of the voters registration and validation if the infrastructure is not expanded it will amount to a total waste of the nation’s time and resources, saying it makes more sense to employ 50,000 workers for 3 months with massive numbers of voter registration machines than to employ 5,000 workers for one year with a few machines.

    It noted that INEC was expected to capture at least 20 million additional Nigerians in this exercise, but the electoral body has barely completed 4 million applications as at March 2022 according to information available on its website. This means that a whopping 16 million Nigerians are likely to be disenfranchised.

    The group also observed that most citizens in the North have already been captured, but the Middle and Southern parts of the country will be denied their universal adult suffrage with the way the registration and validation exercise is being handled.

    The letter reads, “The Coalition for Peter Obi (CPO), a self funded group of independent professionals and intellectuals hereby call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately expand its infrastructure for conducting voter registration and verification exercise across the country and particularly redeploy same to areas of high demand.

    “From statistical analysis, the Nigerian population is estimated at 216 million as at June 2022 according to data from the Worldbank, with a median age of 18.1 years. That means half of the population of Nigeria or 108 million are above 18 years and eligible to vote. INEC’s current voters register estimates Nigeria’s voting population at 84 million, so INEC is expected to capture at least 20 million additional Nigerian voters in this exercise, but the electoral body has completed barely 4 million applications as at March 2022 from information available on its website.

    ” This means that a whopping 16 million Nigerians are likely to be disenfranchised. This is not good for our democracy.

    “This call has become necessary to ensure that 16 million Nigerian citizens are not disenfranchised in the forthcoming general elections.

    “As part of our voter education exercise around the country in June 2022, our field volunteers have observed a clear lack of capacity on the part of INEC to service the voting population especially in high demand areas owing to inadequate infrastructure including limited numbers of registration machines resulting to a slow pace of registration in many centers. We expected that the past 3 weeks of continuous surge would have been enough for INEC to immediately restrategise, expand and redeploy resources to the areas of high demand.

    “As a Coalition of several groups made up of diverse Nigerians from all works of life and from every part of the country including the diaspora, we are committed to support INEC to ensure that it carries out its statutory function as an electoral management body (EMB) to conduct free, fair and credible elections for sustainable democracy in Nigeria.

    “In view of the present troubling circumstances, we recommend that INEC urgently embark on expansion of its voter registration and validation infrastructure to serve the teeming numbers of Nigerians who wish to exercise their patriotic and civic duties of voting in the forthcoming general elections.

    “It has therefore become very obvious that no matter the number of years of extension of the current exercise, it will be a total waste of the nations manpower if the infrastructure is not immediately expanded to cover areas of high demand – which currently is the South. This makes sense because INEC’s data shows that most citizens in the North have been captured. Many Nigerians from the Middle and Southern parts of the country will at the end of the day be denied their universal adult suffrage.

    “Failure to do this will create an impression that INEC has deliberately put machineries in place to disenfranchise a segment of the country thereby manipulating the outcome of the 2023 elections.

    “We will be available to provide non interfering support to INEC to see that every Nigerian who presents himself or herself for registration is duly registered in a seamless manner as stipulated on the INEC website.”

  • 2023 Election: INEC set to end online voters registration

    2023 Election: INEC set to end online voters registration

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that it would suspend the registration of Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) online pre-registration nationwide on May 30 2022. TheNewsGuru.com can confirm.

    Mahmood Yakubu the INEC chairman on Wednesday said that the the online pre-registration and physical registration will continue until the CVR exercise is suspended on June 30, 2022.

    He said this would give time to those who registered online to complete their registration physically and would enable the commission to clean up the registration data.

    “As you are aware, the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise ends next month i.e. 30th June 2022. Both the online pre-registration as well as the physical registration at designated centres are taking place simultaneously,” Yakubu said.

  • INEC registers 5.8m new voters

    INEC registers 5.8m new voters

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has registered 5.8 million new voters in its Continuous Voter Registration as at Monday, Feb. 14.

    INEC noted that of the 5.8 million registered new voters, 3.13 million had completed their registration.

    The Commission explained that 1.3 million of the registrants registered online, while 1.84 registered physically.

    It added that 1.6 million of the registrants are male, another 1.5 million are female, and 27,543 are Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

    It also stated that 9.9 million registered voters applied for voter transfer, requests for replacement of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and update of voter information records.

    It noted that 5.2 million of the applications were from male voters and 4.6 million from female voters, while 95,138 were from PWDS.

  • INEC to display details of newly registered voters

    INEC to display details of newly registered voters

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will on Friday display the details of the newly registered voters in the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).

    The commission disclosed this in a statement by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Festus Okoye, in Abuja on Monday.

    Okoye said that the first quarter of the exercise would end on Tuesday, as fresh registration hits three million.

    He recalled that when the commission resumed the CVR on June 28, INEC released a detailed timetable indicating quarterly schedules for the exercise.

    Okoye said that since then, INEC had been giving weekly updates of both the online pre-registration and the physical completion of registration by voters.

    “Today marks the 12th week and the cumulative figures for the CVR exercise from inception show that the number of fresh online pre-registrants stands at 3,165,189 .

    “Also 1,457,766 Nigerians have applied for voter transfer, replacement of PVCs and update of their voter information records.

    “Completed registrations now stand at 1,081,947 voters.

    “Youths between the ages of 18 and 34 still constitute the majority with 771,770 (71.33 per cent) completed registration.

    “In terms of occupation, students form the largest category with 439,608 (40.63 per cent).

    “On gender distribution, 555,872 (51.38 per cent) are male and 526,075 (48.62 per cent) are female.”

    Okoye stated that detailed figures for Week 12 as of 7 a.m. on Monday had been uploaded to the commission’s website and social media platforms for public information.

    He said that Section 19 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), mandated INEC to publish the register of voters.

    He said that the section mandated that it must be published for a period of not less than five days and not more than 14 days for public scrutiny during which citizens may make claims and objections.

    “In compliance with the law, the register of new voters will be displayed in the local government offices of the commission nationwide from Sept. 24 to Sept. 30.

    “The aim is to enable citizens to assist the commission by identifying ineligible registrants on the list ahead of the cleaning up of the register before adding the fresh registrants to the current register and the printing of their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) for future elections.

    “For clarity, ineligible registrants include foreigners and Nigerians below the age of 18.”

    Okoye urged Nigerians to assist INEC to identify multiple registrants and deceased persons so that they can be removed from the register.

    “The Commission appeals to Nigerians for sustained cooperation and support in our determination to conduct free and fair elections of which a credible register of voters is the foundation,” he said.

    The national commissioner stated that the second quarter of the exercise would begin on Oct. 4 and end on Dec. 20.

    According to him, further details will be announced by the Commission before the commencement of the exercise.

  • INEC alerts Nigerians to fake voter’s registration website

    INEC alerts Nigerians to fake voter’s registration website

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has alerted Nigerians to a fake voter’s registration website.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee made this known on Friday.

    The INEC National Commissioner gave the address of the fake portal as https://register.inec-pvc.online/ with shortened URL as https://bit.ly/INEC-PvcReg2021.

    In a statement by the commission, it stated that INEC has not accredited any agency or organization to capture details of intending voters on its behalf.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Commission has been drawn to a post, which is currently being circulated on the social media, about a website for INEC voter registration which is different from the INEC CVR Portal.

    “The address of the fake portal is https://register.inec-pvc.online/ with shortened URL as https://bit.ly/INEC-PvcReg2021.

    “INEC wishes to totally disassociate itself from this website and any activity carried out on it. The Commission states that it has not accredited any agency or organization to capture details of intending voters on its behalf.

    “The general public is hereby informed that the INEC Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) online portal remains https://cvr.inecnigeria.org”.

  • INEC announces commencement of online voter’s registration

    INEC announces commencement of online voter’s registration

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday announced that it would begin online voter registration through its registration portal on June 28.

    INEC National Commissioner in charge of information and voter education Festus Okoye made the announcement during a press briefing in Abuja.

    “The INEC Voter Registration Portal will be deployed to enable people register online and thereafter go to their respective states or local government offices of the commission to capture their biometrics and facials,” he said.

    Okoye stated that citizens who would rather transfer their registration to a different location could do that through the online portal.

    “Those that have prior issues of accreditation and with damaged or defaced PVCs can also use the online portal to rectify the challenge,” the commissioner explained.

    He disclosed that INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu will announce the commencement of physical registration after consultations with critical stakeholders.

  • Mothers’ Union: Anglican Primate harps on voters’ registration

    Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), and Bishop of Abuja, has urged women to participate in the political process by exercising their rights in the ongoing voters’ registration.

    Okoh, who was represented by Ven. Ephraim Akanya, made the call in his goodwill message at the 8th Edition of the 2018 Diocesan Mothers’ Sports Fiesta on Saturday in Abuja.

    The primate noted that the voters’ registration was still on and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to put all the registration machinery in place to enable more people to register.

    “It is a time of serious political events and so women should be reminded of the fact that voter registration is still on and there should be nobody left out.

    “Everybody should go out and register and also to participate in political processes at this time for the sake of our children.

    “The registration of voters is still on but many people are complaining that when they go there they don’t find the people doing the registration.

    “Please, insist until you are registered; that is the only way you can show and demonstrate your civic responsibility as a Nigerian,’’ he said.

    Primate Okoh, who urged women to cultivate the spirit of sportsmanship, quoted the Holy Book of 1st Timothy Chapter 4 Verse 8, on the need for physical exercise.

    “Sports is very important in the sense that even in the Holy Bible, physical exercise have been given a pass mark.

    “You cannot take away the little profit of physical exercise but godliness profits in all things.

    “We should do everything in such a way that all the glory will go to God,’’ Okoh said.

    We should not only physically fit but also spiritually fit in our homes, churches, places of work and business, so that at the end of this programme the name of God will be glorified.

    Mrs Nkasiobi Okoh, President, Mothers’ Union, said that the diocesana sports was to teach women to be agile not just allowing all the fats in the body to accumulate without physical exercise.

    Okoh, however, described sports as part of the society in the sense that it provides opportunity for recreation and interaction.

    According to her, the Mothers’ Sports Fiesta has become a pace setter in the Anglican Communion.

    “So many dioceses now have their own version of how they celebrate the fiesta. Other denominations have equally borrowed a leaf from this.

    “It helps the body to be in a good form; the woman who exercises go up and down and do her work as it should be done.’’

    The Mothers’ Union, who were divided into Archdeaconries showcased different activities like: march past, cultural dances, sword drill, quiz and chair dance.