2023: Why we can’t extend PVC registration – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ruled on Friday that it is nearly impossible to prolong the CVR, which was stopped on Sunday.

Several concerned Nigerians have previously urged that the CVR be extended to allow qualified would-be voters to register to vote in the upcoming elections.

However, Mike Igini, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Akwa Ibom State, stated on a Channels TV show on Friday that the commission needs to pause the exercise to commence additional steps to filter out any double registrations.

He stated, “Now that we have officially suspended the CVR process, we have to consolidate; aggregate the data and thereafter run the biometric accreditation system to weed out all multiple registrants.”

“Thereafter, Section 19 [Electoral Act 2022] says we must do a one-week display of the voter register for the commission to accept claims; objections as it relates to either omitted names or names of individuals that ought not to be on that register as identified by people in the area.”