By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the end of the first quarter of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).

The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information & Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye Esq, in a statement on Monday said the fresh registration exercise recorded over 3 million voters.

He said that Monday marked the 12th week of the exercise, saying that the cumulative figures for the CVR exercise from inception show that the number of fresh online pre-registrants stands at 3,165,189 while 1,457,766 Nigerians 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%) completed registration. In terms of occupation, students form the largest category with 439,608 (40.63%). On gender distribution, 555,872 (51.38%) are male and 526,075 (48.62%) are female,” Okoye said.

According to him, the detailed figures for Week 12 as of 7am yesterday, Monday, September 20, 2021 have been uploaded to the Commission’s website and social media platforms for public information.

The statement partly reads: “Nigerians would recall that when the Commission resumed the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) on 28th June 2021, we released a detailed Timetable indicating quarterly schedules for the exercise. The First Quarter ends tomorrow 21st September 2021. Since then, the Commission has been giving weekly updates of both the online pre-registration and the physical completion of registration by voters.

“As provided by Section 19 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), the Commission is mandated to publish the register of voters for a period of not less than 5 days and not more than 14 days for public scrutiny during which citizen 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 24th – 30th September 2021. The aim is to enable citizens 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. Nigerians should also assist the Commission to identify multiple registrants and deceased persons so that they can be removed from the register.”

The Commission appealed to Nigerians to sustain their cooperation and support assuring that it is determined to conduct free and fair elections of which a credible register of voters is the foundation.

Okoye said the Second Quarter of the exercise will begin on October, 4 2021 and end on 20th December 2021, adding that details will be announced by the Commission before the commencement of the exercise.

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