Moses Ofodeme
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday 30th June 2022 directed its Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs and Electoral Officers, to sustain the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise until further notice.
In a statement, Festus Okoye Esq.National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, said the INEC met on Thursday where some issues including the CVR, the issuance of Certified True Copies (CTCs) of documents and the commencement of the Uploading of the List and Personal Particulars of Governorship and State Assembly Candidates were reviewed.
After, all issues relating to the CVR were considered, the Commission resolved to sustain the exercise and has directed all the Resident Electoral Commissioners and Electoral Officers to continue with the exercise pending further directives from the Commission.
“The Commission has consistently reiterated its resolve to continue to provide electoral services to the Nigerian people and register all eligible Nigerians that are interested in registering. The Commission has yet again deployed additional machines to areas of pressure and will continue to serve the people of Nigeria. ” said Okoye.
He stated that the case at the Federal High Court relating to the terminal date of the CVR came up on Wednesday 29th June 2022, and based on the request of the Commission, the Court granted an accelerated hearing and adjourned the matter to Monday 4th July 2022 for hearing of the substantive matter.
The Commission said it will give an update after court hearing next week.
He further noted that the Commission has been inundated with applications for Certified True Copy (CTC)of various documents.
“So far, 186 requests for CTCs, some running into hundreds of pages, have been processed. The Commission is working round the clock, including weekends, to attend to all such requests. We wish to assure political parties, aspirants, candidates, and all applicants for CTCs of documents that their applications will be treated expeditiously and will be issued in earnest.” Okoye assured.
On the uploading of list and particulars of nominated candidate, he said that by the Timetable and Schedule of Activities released by the Commission, Political Parties that conducted valid Governorship and State Assembly primaries shall upload the list and personal particulars of their nominated candidates between 1st and 15th July 2022.
The Commission therefore urged political parties to scrutinize the list and personal particulars of the candidates they propose to sponsor at the election to avoid any mix-up and duplication of names and also advised not to wait until the last day before uploading the list and personal particulars of their candidates.
He disclosed that the Candidates Nomination Portal will shut down at 6pm on 15th July 2022, advising that Political parties that have challenges with uploading documents should contact the Commission’s Help – Desk, through the dedicated telephone lines or contact the candidate nomination centre at the Commission’s headquarters.
