2023: INEC To Resume Continuous Voters Registration On June 28

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed
June 28 to resume the continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise
ahead of the 2023 elections.

Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, announced the date at a press
conference in Abuja on Thursday.

As of 2018 when the CVR was suspended, Nigeria’s voting
population stood at 84 million, which translates to just 40 percent
of the entire population.

The commission earlier targeted the resumption of the exercise
in the first quarter of 2021.

But Yakubu said the target was not met as a result of some
activities such as the introduction of new systems to ensure the
registration is in line with COVID-19 guidelines, expansion of
voter access to polling units and introduction of new voter
registration equipment and technology.

“Effective from Monday 28th June 2021, the CVR exercise will
commence nationwide and carried out continuously for over a year
until the third quarter of 2022,” he said.

“However, emphasis will initially be on Anambra State where more
centres will be established in view of the governorship election
already scheduled for Saturday, 6th November 2021.

“In order to complete preparations for the governorship
election, the CVR exercise in the state will be temporarily
suspended in August 2021. This will enable the commission to clean
up the data for the state and print the PVCs (permanent voter
cards) for registrants.

“As time goes on, the commission will provide more details on
the CVR exercise, particularly the innovations that will ensure a
safe and stress-free experience for registrants. In doing so, we
will fully consult stakeholders. In fact, the first in the series
of these consultations will take place after the Easter break.”

Yakubu encouraged all various groups of Nigerians to take
advantage of the opportunity and fulfil their civic responsibility
including Nigerians who are 18 years of age and have never been
registered to vote; any registered voter who has had any issue
during accreditation at previous elections; all registered voters
who wish to transfer their voting locations from the present one to
another, who no longer have valid PVCs or who wish to correct their
information.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed
June 28 to resume the continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise
ahead of the 2023 elections.

Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, announced the date at a press
conference in Abuja on Thursday.

As of 2018 when the CVR was suspended, Nigeria’s voting
population stood at 84 million, which translates to just 40 percent
of the entire population.

The commission earlier targeted the resumption of the exercise
in the first quarter of 2021.

But Yakubu said the target was not met as a result of some
activities such as the introduction of new systems to ensure the
registration is in line with COVID-19 guidelines, expansion of
voter access to polling units and introduction of new voter
registration equipment and technology.

“Effective from Monday 28th June 2021, the CVR exercise will
commence nationwide and carried out continuously for over a year
until the third quarter of 2022,” he said.

“However, emphasis will initially be on Anambra State where more
centres will be established in view of the governorship election
already scheduled for Saturday, 6th November 2021.

“In order to complete preparations for the governorship
election, the CVR exercise in the state will be temporarily
suspended in August 2021. This will enable the commission to clean
up the data for the state and print the PVCs (permanent voter
cards) for registrants.

“As time goes on, the commission will provide more details on
the CVR exercise, particularly the innovations that will ensure a
safe and stress-free experience for registrants. In doing so, we
will fully consult stakeholders. In fact, the first in the series
of these consultations will take place after the Easter break.”

Yakubu encouraged all various groups of Nigerians to take
advantage of the opportunity and fulfil their civic responsibility
including Nigerians who are 18 years of age and have never been
registered to vote; any registered voter who has had any issue
during accreditation at previous elections; all registered voters
who wish to transfer their voting locations from the present one to
another, who no longer have valid PVCs or who wish to correct their
information.