The House of Representatives on Wednesday June 15,2022 during its plenary session urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the Continuous Voter Registration deadline by an extra 60 (sixty) days from June 30, 2022.
Hon. Benjamin Kalu representing Bende Federal Constituency who raised the motion said that the large number of eligible voters still unregistered is evidenced by the large crowd of Nigerians at various registration centers which has caused so much congestion and also reports of shortages of voter registration machines as well as the shortage of adequate manpower and personnel at registration centers.
He said it has become imperative that the Independent Electoral Commission extends the registration exercise by an extra period of 60 days from June 30, 2022, to enable more Nigerians to register.
Kalu noted that the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is scheduled to end on 30 June 2022, ahead of the 2023 General Elections;
Rep. Kalu emphasized that the right to vote is critically important and legitimacy of our democracy, as well as electoral integrity and if nothing is done to improve the shortage of voter registration equipment and extend the deadline for registration, millions of Nigerians may be disenfranchised thus jeopardizing the integrity of the 2023 General Elections.
The House therefore asked the Commission to deploy additional Adhoc staff in registration centres to quicken the process of data capturing and other requirements and further mandated its Committee on Electoral Matters to liaise with INEC and report on why there was a need for a voter registration deadline in Nigeria as compared to other jurisdictions where citizens could register up to a week to the elections.
Olalere Taiwo
for Head of Press; Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters
Thursday June 16, 2022
