Democracy Network decries suspension of continuous voter registration by INEC
From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
A civil society organisation that aims to promote the advancement of democracy in Africa, the Democracy Network has decreed the suspension of the Continuous Voter Registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC).
The Nigerian Arm of the network said INEC is violating Section 10 of the Electoral Act 2022 which states that “there shall be continuous registration of all persons qualified to be registered voters”.
The network made the call at the University of Calabar during a forum with students on Challenges and Opportunities for Continuous Voter Registration in Nigeria.
The forum was held in partnership with the Center for Development and Democracy, Nextier, UMass Boston, Yiaga Africa, Lite – Africa and NDOF.
In a presentation, Uzoma Aneto, the team lead of the network said INEC should open the portal so that Nigerians who have attained 18 years can vote without stress.
She said it is the right of every Nigerian who is up to eighteen years to get registered.
“INEC should open the portal so that our young ones can register and get their voter cards without stress.
“It is the right of young persons who are turning 18 everyday to walk into local government areas and development centres to get registered”, she said.
She said many developed countries use CVR models successfully and the benefits of CVR includes reduced long term costs, always having a complete and accurate register, reduced large scale logistical challenges for the election management body and high service orientation.
Speaking on the Policy Brief of the Network, Ibrahim Faruk said the electoral act says there should be CVR and INEC has suspended the exercise for about two year.
He also disclosed that ten million Nigerians started online registration during the last elections and only three million went to INEC offices to complete the process, meaning seven million youths could not complete the process.
This he added implies that over 67% of those who began their registration process online were not able to vote during the last general elections and this was enough to influence the outcome of the elections.
On her part, Professor Stella Ansa, the Head of Linguistics Department in the University said young people can only effect change by getting involved.
Also speaking, Professor Offiong Ani Offiong said he strongly believes that through the forum the students have been well enlightened.
He said a lot of them came to the University without having voter cards and thanked the Democratic Network for letting the students know why they should be registered.
The network also urged the students to sign up to change.org.#Register18 to compel INEC to commence the CVR process.
The CVR process by INEC lasted for only thirteen months during the four years between elections.
