The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says intending voters who were unable to register for their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and resolve PVC-related issues can still do so at INEC centers nationwide.
INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Ayodele Aluko stated this when he appeared as a guest on Nigeria Info’s The Newsroom.
He dismissed the assumptions that the commission may extend the deadline for online pre-registration which ended on 30 May.
“This particular registration started June 28 last year, to June this year is a whole year for people to register.
“Those who have not registered before, those who need to replace their spoilt card, and those who need to transfer their registration or who need to correct their names when their data was not properly captured can make use of the one month remaining from June 1 to June 30 to do that.
“No one should be thinking that there will be an extension. No one should be waiting for an extension that may not come.”
The INEC Director of Voter Education and Publicity also dismissed accusations that the commission extended its 3 June deadline for party primaries because it was influenced by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Mr. Aluko maintained that the commission is a neutral organisation that does not favour parties.
“The commission is nonpartisan we don’t favour any party over the other.
“There are 18 political parties in the country and for us, they are all equal, we treat them as equals.
“If there is any allegation to that effect it is just the feelings of those who are saying it but I can say it categorically that there is nothing like that, we are completely independent and we don’t favour any party over the other.”
But, a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Ose Anenih says the decision by INEC to close its voter registration in June will disenfranchise millions of Nigerians.
Mr. Anenih, the son of the one-time chairman of the PDP’s board of trustees, Tony Anenih says the new twists and turns in the political scene have got a lot of people interested in the electoral process.
He says it is only right that INEC creates an opportunity to accommodate new persons who seek to register for their PVC.
“If you are going to concede to political parties, you must then concede not to disenfranchise Nigerians who have been unable to register.
“It makes no sense that registration ends on the 30th of June, eight months before February elections next year.
“Even by INEC’s own standard they have only registered 29 percent of the target they set for themselves, there is no reason why they have fixed this date of June 30th.
“They are going to disenfranchise millions of Nigerians and that is almost criminal.”
Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) says it will consider legal action against INEC if it fails to extend the deadline for voter registration the same way it extended the deadline for party primaries.
In a letter by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said the extension of voter registration will give more time for eligible Nigerians to conveniently get their PVCs to exercise their right to vote.
According to SERAP, “Extending the voter registration deadline would provide more time for eligible voters, including young people, the elderly, people living with disability, as well as those resident in states facing security challenges and living in IDP camps to participate in the 2023 elections.
“Extending the deadline for voter registration would be entirely consistent with constitutional and international standards, and the Electoral Act.
“Any such extension would also not impact negatively on the INEC’s election calendar and activities.
“INEC mandates ought to be exercised in a fair, just, and non-discriminatory manner.
“If voting is as important as the INEC always claims it is, now is the time to show that Nigerian voters will be treated equally and fairly. The future of Nigeria’s democracy depends on it.”
They urged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu to consider the extension within 48 hours of the receipt of the letter.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 48 hours of the receipt and/or publication of this letter.
“If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel INEC to comply with our request in the public interest.”
