CVR: It’s impossible to extend deadline – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it would set up registration points at its local government offices across the country to cater for those who could not participate in the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) during the scheduled dates of August 20 to 25, 2014.

The Commission said the explanation became necessary to allay the fears in some quarters of possible exclusion of eligible voters in the exercise.

In a statement signed by Kayode Idowu, chief press secretary to the INEC chairman, the Commission blamed old tendencies for multiple registrations for the crowd clusters at registration points.

“This phase of the exercise, which commenced on Wednesday, August 20, 2014, involved the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and 11 states namely: Yobe, Bauchi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kwara, Anambra, Ebonyi, Ondo, Oyo, Delta and Cross River,” the statement read.

“Much as the Commission is eager to ensure that all legitimate persons who are yet to register as voters have the opportunity to do so, it is logistically impossible to extend this phase of the CVR beyond its scheduled deadline (i.e. Monday, August 25, 2014).

“But in order to give fair chance to legitimate registrants, the Commission will, on a date to be shortly announced, set up registration points at its Local Government Area (LGA) offices where people yet to do so can go to register.

“INEC notes with deep regret that old tendencies towards irregularity, such as multiple registrations, largely accounted for the crowd clusters lingering at registration points set up for the CVR by the Commission.

“Many other people who have relocated since the last registration exercise and only needed to apply for their registration status to be transferred to their new location also turned up for fresh registration. When data are consolidated and de-duplication is carried out by INEC, all instances of multiple registrations will yet be eliminated. But, unfortunately, these sets of people obstructed legitimate registrants from having their turn at the registration points.

“The Commission strongly appeals that anyone who has previously registered and already has his/her records in the biometric register of voters should avoid re-presenting himself/herself at any other place for registration.”

INEC again hereby urges all stakeholders in the electoral process to commit themselves to playing at all times by the rules in the collective quest to enthrone free, fair and credible elections”.