The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it would commence the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in the Edo and Ondo states to enable eligible citizens who are not registered voters to do so ahead of the governorship elections.
The Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at the second regular quarterly consultative meeting with political parties.
He said the exercise would take place in 192 Ward registration centres in Edo State and 203 centres in Ondo State, in addition with State offices in Benin City and Akure, making a total of 397 walk-in registration centres in the two States
Yakubu explained that the CVR in Edo and Ondo States would take place simultaneously from Monday 27th May 2024 to Wednesday 5th June 2024 from 9.00am to 3.00pm daily including the weekend.
The chairman added that persons who are registered as voters should not attempt to register again as double or multiple registration is illegal.
He explained that lost or damaged voters’ cards would be replaced during the exercise, but added that it however required fresh registration.
Yakubu stated: “The CVR in Edo and Ondo States will take place simultaneously from Monday 27th May 2024 to Wednesday 5th June 2024 from 9.00am to 3.00pm daily including the weekend.
“Taking into consideration the limited time to the Governorship elections, the Commission has decided to conduct the registration at Ward level and our State headquarters instead of our Local Government offices and a few designated centers as was the case in the past.
“This means that there will be 192 Ward registration centres in Edo State and 203 centres in Ondo State, in addition to our State offices in Benin City and Akure, making a total of 397 walk-in registration centres in the two States.”
Yakubu pointed out that there would be no online pre-registration option in the two States because of time constraint.
He stated: “As the elections in the two States approach, the Commission has decided to resume the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the two States to enable eligible citizens who are not registered voters to do so.”
Yakubu noted that those who are registered voters also have the opportunity to transfer their registration from other States of the federation to Edo and Ondo States or from one location to another within the two States.
He reiterated that the CVR is only open to new registrants and those who sought to transfer their registration.
He said each centre would be managed by two officials drawn from its regular staff and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The chairman stated: “In the next few days, the Commission will commence the training of at least 794 officials for the exercise. The locations of the registration centres as well as other relevant information have been compiled in a detailed 28-page document included in your folders for this meeting. The same information will be uploaded to our website and social media platforms for public information shortly.”