JUST IN: Voters registration will commence nationwide on April 27 - INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that the commission will commence a nationwide voter registration on April 27.

The information was revealed by Mrs Amina Zakari, INEC National Commissioner, after a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECS) and Administrative Secretaries from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory

According to her, “the exercise would take place across the 774 local government areas of the federation from 9am to 3pm.”

The registration centres, according to the statement, shall be the local government offices of the commission or such other suitable locations as would be made public by the State Offices of lNEC. It stated that the decision was taken at the meeting following INEC consultations with stakeholders including political parties, civil society organisations and the media.

“The exercise is intended to enable citizens who have turned 18 years of age since the last registration as well as those who did not register during the last exercise to register as voters. “It will allow those seeking transfer of their registration from one State to another or within a State from polling unit to another to do so.

“The exercise also intends to enable the distribution of uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to those who could not collect them before or since the last general elections. “It will also enable citizens who have the Temporary Voter Cards (TVCs) but whose names are on the register to collect their PVCs,’’ it said.

However, the commission advised those who were already registered not to do so again as it is an offence to register more than once.

“The commission wishes to reiterate its commitment to consolidating our democracy. `This we are going to do by ensuring that citizens are given the opportunity to register as voters on a continuous basis as enshrined in the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) well before elections.’’

It therefore appealed to all citizens to cooperate with the commission to ensure the success of the exercise.