Just In : INEC gives fresh update ahead of Edo,Ondo Election
The Independent National National Electoral Commission has said it would invite new registrants in the Continuous Voter Registration in Edo and Ondo States for validation.
The CVR was held in the two states from May 27 to June 9, 2024, after which INEC displayed the register for one week across the wards in Edo and Ondo States.
In a statement on Thursday, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, stated that following a cleanup using the Automated Biometric Identification System, 82 registrants in Edo State and 164 in Ondo state did not meet the threshold for seamless accreditation.
He said, “The commission held its regular weekly meeting today, Thursday, July 18, 2024, and considered, among other issues, matters arising from the last CVR in Edo and Ondo States, held from May 27 to June 9, 2024.
“Following the conclusion of the exercise, the commission displayed the register for one week (12 – 19 June 2024) in the 395 Wards across the two States for claims and objections by Nigerians as provided in Section 19 of the Electoral Act 2022.
“This manual process was followed by a further clean-up of the register using the ABIS, at the end of which the Commission discovered that the quality of Biometric details for 246 applicants (82 in Edo State and 164 in Ondo State) did not meet the threshold for seamless accreditation using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) which is a mandatory requirement for accreditation under Section 47(2) of the Electoral Act 2022.”
Olumekun stated that while the 246 registrants who did not meet the accreditation threshold represent only 0.1% of the 269,992 new registrants in the two states, the Commission is committed to ensuring that every Nigerian can vote seamlessly during elections.
He added that affected new registrants would be invited for the validation of their biometric details in the same locations they registered during the CVR.
Olumekun said the exercise would commence on July 22 and end on July 28.
He said, “Although the number constitutes 0.1% of the 269,992 new registrants (pre-ABIS) in the two States, the Commission is determined to give every Nigerian the opportunity to exercise his/her right to vote seamlessly during elections.
“Consequently, the Commission is inviting the new registrants to come forward for validation of their biometric details in the same locations where they registered during the CVR. The exercise will take place from Monday, July 22, to Sunday, July 28, 2024. “
The statement added,” The distribution of the 82 registrants in Edo State shows that they come from four LGAs. Ten are from Uwessan Ward 1 in Essan Central LGA, 2 in Emu Ward in Essan South LGA, 69 in Ofunama Ward in Ovia South West LGA and one voter in Irhue Ward in Uhunmwonde LGA.
“The 164 voters in Ondo State are from three LGAs. Eleven are from Ofosu/Onisere Ward in Idanre LGA, one voter in Ugbo Ward V in Ilaje LGA, while the rest are from Ose LGA (eight in Imoru/Arimogija Ward and 144 in Okeluse Ward).”
Olumekun noted that the affected registrants would be contacted through the telephone numbers they provided during the CVR.
He said, “Before the end of this week, the affected registrants will be contacted using the mobile phones and/or other contact details provided by them during the CVR.
“Meanwhile, a comprehensive list, including their Polling Units, has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for immediate action by the affected registrants and public information.
“At the end of the exercise next week, the Commission will provide the final detailed breakdown of the new registrants in the two States, followed by the timetable for the collection of PVCs.”
