INEC To Comence Continuous Voter Registration in August Nationwide

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC is to resume the Continuous Voter Registration, CVR across the country in August .

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu who stated this during a meeting with leaders of political parties in Abuja said that the CVR would commence initially in the 326 Wards across Anambra State early next month due to the governorship election scheduled for November this year .

Professor Yakubu also explained that the CVR registration would be held simultaneously in all States and FCT offices as well as the 774 Local Government offices nationwide.

He said that during the registration, new voters as well as those who wish to transfer their registration from other States of the Federation or from one location to another within the State would have the opportunity to do so.

He also explained that registered voters whose Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are lost or damaged would have the opportunity to apply for a replacement.

On bye elections, the INEC Chairman said the elections would be conducted in the second week of August in 16 constituencies across 12 States of the country involving a total of 3,553,659 registered voters spread across 32 Local Government Areas, 356 Wards and 6,987 Polling Units.

Professor Yakubu who also explained that 30,451 officials would be deployed however added that it would not hold in Khana II State Constituency in Rivers State as a result of the current state of emergency and Talata Mafara South Constituency in Zamfara State following a legal challenge on the declaration of the seat vacant by the State Assembly.

INEC Chairman emphasized that In addition to the bye-elections, the Commission would also conduct the two outstanding Court-ordered re-run elections in Enugu South I Constituency of Enugu State and the Ghari/Tsanyawa Constituency in Kano State.

He explained that the elections which were severally disrupted by thuggery and violence would now be combined with the bye-elections upon assurances from the security agencies to adequately secure the process.

According to him, the outstanding bye-elections involve two Senatorial Districts, Anambra South and Edo Central; five Federal Constituencies as well as nine State constituencies.