By Eniola Akinkuotu, Friday Olokor and Deborah Tolu-Kolawole.
The plan of the Independent National Electoral Commission to register at least 20 million Nigerian voters before the end of June seems unlikely to come to fruition as only 5.8 million people representing 29 percent of INEC’s target have actually registered.
According to INEC, as of May 16, 9,238,991 fresh registrants had registered online but of this figure, only 5,845,751 had completed the physical registration process.
The INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, had said last year that the commission was expected to register 20 million Nigerians before July this year. The intended target was mostly youths who had crossed the age of 18 since the 2019 elections.
However, with barely a month left to INEC’s deadline, over 70 percent of those INEC had thought would register have failed to do so.
When contacted on the telephone, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said the commission would not extend the deadline which is June 30.
He said, “The commission will not extend the CVR (Continuous Voter Registration) which started on June 30 last year. For the first time ever, the commission introduced the online pre-registration option, to make it easier for eligible Nigerians to register.
“As of 7 am on Monday, May 16, there were 9,238,991 fresh registrants. But only 5,845,751 have completed the registration process so far. However, you will agree with me that one year is long enough for a serious individual to register as a voter.
“Anyone who fails to register before June 30 this year will have another opportunity when the CVR resumes after the 2023 general elections.”
Speaking in an interview with our correspondent, the Convener, Adopt A Goal initiative noted that INEC and other stakeholders had done enough to get citizens registered. He however encouraged the need to sensitise voters to prevent voter apathy.
Credit: THE PUNCH.
