Edo, Ondo Guber: INEC to Commence CVR Exercise May 27

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

Ahead of the Edo and Ondo State governorship elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it would resume the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the two states to enable eligible citizens who are not registered voters to do so.

The CVR in Edo and Ondo States, it said, would take place simultaneously from May 27 to June 5, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, including the weekend.

The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja at the second regular quarterly consultative meeting with political parties.

He stated that: “As the elections in the two states approach, the commission has decided to resume the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the two states to enable eligible citizens who are not registered voters to do so.”

Yakubu noted that those who are registered voters also have the opportunity to transfer their registration from other states of the federation to Edo and Ondo States or from one location to another within the two states.

He reiterated that the CVR was only open to new registrants and those who sought to transfer their registration.

The  chairman added that persons who are registered as voters should not attempt to register again as double or multiple registration is illegal.

He explained that lost or damaged voter’s cards would be replaced during the exercise, but added that it however required fresh registration.

Yakubu stated that: “The CVR in Edo and Ondo States will take place simultaneously from May 27 to June 5, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, including weekends.

“Taking into consideration the limited time to the governorship elections, the commission has decided to conduct the registration at Ward level and our state headquarters instead of our local government offices and a few designated centres as was the case in the past.

“This means that there will be 192 Ward registration centres in Edo State and 203 centres in Ondo State in addition to our state offices in Benin-city and Akure, making a total of 397 walk-in registration centres in the two states.”

The commission, therefore, appealed to political parties and other stakeholders to join it in mobilising prospective registrants for the exercise, particularly on the need to register early and not wait until the deadline approaches when the registration centres would be inundated by eleventh hour registrants.

Yakubu noted that in addition to the registration of voters, the commission would also make available the uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) for collection during the CVR.

He said in the coming days, the list of uncollected PVCs would be published in its offices in the two states and simultaneously uploaded on its website. The commission encouraged those who have not collected their PVCs in the two states to seize the opportunity to do so.

The chairman further informed party leaders about the existence of vacancies in National and State Assemblies caused by either death or resignation of members in three states and one federal constituency across the country.

Yakubu said  as soon as preparations are concluded, the commission would announce the dates for by-elections in Khana 2 state constituency of Rivers State, the Bagwai/Shanono state constituency of Kano State, the Zaria Kewaye state constituency of Kaduna State and the Garki/Babura federal constituency of Jigawa State.

Also, the Chairman of Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yusuf Dantalle, has said ahead of the forthcoming Edo and Ondo State governorship elections, it was important that voters in the two states are massively mobilised to register and participate in the polls.

He assured Nigerians that IPAC would spearhead this crucial exercise in collaboration with INEC, saying with the lowest voter turnout in the 2023 general election, much needs to be done.