INEC Has Agreed to Extend Voter Registration, Lawmaker Reveals

•Commission denies CVR extension 

•Ekiti Poll: Oyebanji, deputy-elect get certificates of return

Chuks Okocha and  Udora Orizu in Abuja  and Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has agreed to extend the ongoing continuous voter’s registration (CVR) by 60 days in line with the resolution passed by the House of Representatives, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon. Aisha Dukku yesterday.

But a source at INEC who spoke with THISDAY on condition of anonymity, stressed that the Commission did not arrive at any agreement with the House of Representative Committee for an extension of the CVR.

The lawmakers had at the plenary last week, while adopting a motion sponsored by House Spokesman, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, urged the electoral body to extend the June 30, 2022, deadline for voter registration, so as to enable more eligible Nigerians register, get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and participate in the 2023 general elections.

They mandated its Committee on Electoral Matters to engage with INEC to examine and proffer solutions to the shortage of registration machines and manpower.

At plenary, Dukku gave the update in response to the point of order raised by the Minority Leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu.

Elumelu, while expressing concerns over INEC’s activities, frowned at government’s agencies’ disregard to various resolutions passed by the House.

He said: “We passed a resolution on INEC by way of consideration extend the tenure of continuous voter’s registration, which they had wanted to stop. And I’m also aware that the court of competent jurisdiction also gave a judgement to the effect that they are also urging INEC not to stop or end the continuous registration.

“But from the feelers that I am getting, it’s like INEC is even threatening to appeal against that judgement, jettisoning the resolution that was passed on this floor. So Mr. Speaker, I will like the chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters to educate us on the efforts that they have made. The second leg of the motion is for them to follow up and ensure compliance, that is the point of my order,” Elumelu said.

Commenting, the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila who presided over the session, explained that he had an interaction with the Chairman, House Committee on Electoral Matters.

He said, “I met with the Chairman, Committee on electoral Matters, Hon. Dukku and she has briefed me and I told her she will brief the House today on how far she’s gone with the assignment that was given to her by the resolution of the House last week. The resolution was for the extension of the voter’s registration.”

In her presentation, Dukku affirmed that the Committee had a meeting with the INEC Chairman, and he agreed to comply with the House resolution.

According to her, “Mr. Speaker, as I earlier told you we met with INEC chairman yesterday (Tuesday) based on the referral to our committee we thought it was urgent so we invited INEC and Professor Yakubu Mahmood was with us throughout yesterday afternoon and part of what we agreed to was that he has already agreed to extend but for the court injunction he is to appear on the 29th of June.

“That notwithstanding, he said it has been guaranteed that it has to be extended, and not just extending, but also during weekends.

“He has agreed to that and that he is going to make a statement very soon to that effect. That extension also involves additional machines, additional ad-hoc staff and of course he’s going to collaborate with the security agencies to make sure that that is also done. So all the prayers of the motion were approved and all members of the committee were there including the mover of the motion.”

Ruling, Gbajabiamila commended the committee.

But speaking with THISDAY, the senior INEC official said: “If we are  going to extend the CVR, the Commission will issue a formal statement, stating the reasons for doing that, but we haven’t done that.

“But what is more complicating is that somebody took us to court, asking the court to stop us from ending the CVR. So, we have received an order of the court that we should not do anything about it, until we get to the court on June 29, to respond to issues raised with respect to that.

“So, we can’t take any action on the CVR until June 29. So, we haven’t extended and if we are going to do so, we are going to announce it.”

Ekiti Poll: Oyebanji, Deputy-Elect Get Return Certificates

Meanwhile, Ekiti State governor-elect and the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the June 18 governorship election, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji and his Deputy, Mrs. Monisade Afuye, yesterday, got their certificates of return, indicating their victory in the just concluded poll.

Oyebanji at the event, described the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Authentication System(BVAS) as a game changer in the country’s electioneering process and predicated the credibility of Ekiti poll on the technological innovation.

Oyebanji garnered a total of 187, 057 votes to defeat his closest rival and candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Engr Segun Oni, who polled 82,211 votes, among other contenders.

The governor-elect who spoke while receiving the certificate alongside Afuye at INEC’s office in Ado Ekiti, promised not to betray Ekiti people in his service to them.

Similarly, the winner of the Saturday’s House of Assembly bye-election conducted simultaneously with the governorship poll in Ekiti East Constituency 2, Hon Oyewole Fatoba, also got his certificate from the commission.

Addressing the crowd of party supporters and admirers,  Oyebanji said the victory was not about him,  but was made possible by God and the people of the state, promising that he would execute his 6-point agenda zealously to usher a new dawn of progress and development in Ekiti.

“Let me thank INEC for providing a level-playing ground for the contenders in this election. I can’t agree with INEC less that the BVAS was a game changer in our election.

“Nobody ever believed what happened on Saturday could ever happen. Some people still not believed that the rigging of election was over, but Ekiti election really convinced us.

“Thanks to the security agencies and the people of the state for having trust in APC. The people committed such huge trust in us because of the stellar performance of Governor Kayode Fayemi, and it was that I will build on. What happened on Saturday was a referendum and validation that the APC-led government has performed.”

Oyebanji stated that he would partner INEC as a governor to fortify the electoral process, while striving hard not to disappoint Ekiti people who overwhelmingly elected him. 

Addressing the recipients, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Ekiti State, Dr. Adeniran Tella, said the presentation of certificates was in line with Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act, which stipulated that the commission should present certificates to governor and deputy within 14 days of being elected.

Tella urged all the stakeholders to cooperate with INEC to further democratise the process, by playing positive roles in electioneering process.

“Let me on behalf of the commission congratulate you and your deputy for being the one chosen by the electorate. INEC is committed to deepen democracy and that influenced the introduction of BVAS, and this was a watershed in the country’s electioneering process.

“The customisation of all election materials reduced the incidences of hijack. All stakeholders, particularly the political parties and security agencies should support INEC in the introduction of technology to enhance our electoral process and reduce the number of electoral offenders,” Tella stated.

Also lending his voice to the commission’s readiness to fortify democracy, National Commissioner in charge of Ekiti, Oyo and Lagos, Mr. Sam Olumekun, said INEC was able to surmount all the odds through proper planning to conduct a free, fair and credible election in Ekiti.

“The BVAS introduction was a game changer in our electoral process. I want to advise the winner that while celebrating, he must think of how to understand the problems of the citizens, and how best to resolve them.

“We are presenting these certificates today because the candidate scored the highest number of votes and he met the constitutional required spread across all the 16 local governments.”