The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will not end the ongoing continuous voter registration (CVR) on June 30, 2022.
Chairman of the Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, made this known on Saturday, during the Youth Vote Count concert at the old parade ground, Abuja.
It could be recalled that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise was earlier scheduled to end on June 30, but some organisations filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, praying the court to compel INEC to extend the deadline, following reports of a surge of voters in registration centres.
Fielding questions on Saturday, during the vote count awareness concert, Yakubu said the ongoing continuous voter registration will continue to ensure that eligible Nigerians are not deprived of their PVC.
“The second thing is you want to know when this registration will end. Is it going to end on the 30th of June in the next five days?
“On behalf of INEC, let me assure you, e no go end for 30th June for as long as we have you people trying to register to obtain your PVC, we will continue to register you and we will continue to make sure that you get your PVC”, Yakubu said, adding that in the last five days, “we have registered over 14,000 Nigerians in this place alone. We have about 50 voter registration machines.”
He further said, “by next Monday, we will deploy more machines to register Nigerians. We won’t stop registration until we are satisfied that those who wish to register are given the opportunity to do so.”
The INEC boss said contrary to reports, distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for the ongoing CVR exercise will begin in October, 2022.
“When will your PVCs be ready for collection? PVCs will be ready for collection latest by October this year long before the election. I want to thank you for making the PVC the most popular Identification Card”, he added.
He urged the youths to ensure that they used the PVC for the purpose it is meant for, “not just for opening of bank accounts”.
Yakubu assured the registrants that their votes count in all elections
His words:“Ekiti governorship poll is good, Osun will be better and 2023 general elections will be the best. Your votes will count. For those who are yet to register, kindly do so to vote”
Head of the EU delegation to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Ambassador Samuela Isopi, urged youths not to sell their votes, adding that they have the numbers to drive positive change.
“This is the start of a great change. We can feel the energy. Nigerians are mobilising and there is this feeling that this time they are ready to be the driver of change. You have the Power to drive positive change. Get your PVC and use it. Your votes will count and don’t give up your power. don’t sell your votes because if you sell your votes, you sell your future.
“Go out and challenge your leaders and stand for your values. This is the way to build democracy, to have better governance and a better Nigeria. The EU will stand by you and by all Nigerians to make Nigeria democracy stronger”, she said.
The awareness campaign was organised by INEC in partnership with European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) and YIAGA Africa.
The event was designed to mobilise youths across the state for the on-going nationwide CVR exercise.
