*Warns political parties submit membership register 30 days before primaries
WorldStage Newsonline– The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) is set to review it policy with a guide of Electoral Act 2022 and security challenges, to ensure that no Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in any part of the country is disenfranchised.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who disclosed this at second regular quarterly consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on Friday in Abuja urged political parties to comply with the provision of Sec. 77 of the Electoral Act 2022, ensuring each party maintain a membership register in hard and soft copy and to make such register available to the Commission not later than 30 days before the date fixed for primaries, congresses and conventions.
Hesaid only one political party had so far complied, and that it is a mandatory requirement of the law and all parties are required to comply.
Prof. Yakubu, said the commission was confident that security agencies had the capacity to deal with the security challenges ahead of 2023 General Election, adding that the commission had started with the preparation for election early.
On CVR exercise, Prof. Yakubu said, “Since the CVR exercise resumed on 11th April 2002 for the fourth and final quarter, there is a noticeable increase in the number of new registrants. In the last one week of the exercise, 405,587 eligible Nigerians completed the registration at the various centres which is about 31% increase on the average figure of 125,000 weekly registrations since the exercise commenced in June last year. We expect a surge in new registrations as we approach the deadline of 30th June 2022 and we are prepared for it.
“However, we are concerned about the safety of our personnel and Nigerians who come out to register at the various registration centres. We are also concerned about the security of our equipment and materials, including the printed Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) made available for collection by registered voters. Recent incidents involving our staff and facilities are worrisome.
“You may recall that after a series of consultations with stakeholders (political parties, civil society organisations, the media and security agencies) before the resumption of the exercise in June last year, we agreed on a roll-out and roll-back approach to the CVR exercise depending on the security situation in specific areas.
“Consequently on the unfortunate incident in Imo State last week, the Commission suspended the CVR exercise in all the 54 additional centres in the State. The exercise is now restricted to our State and Local Government offices except Ihitte Uboma, Njaba and Osu where the exercise has been suspended for the time being.
“Similarly, based on the urgency of the situation in Anambra State, the CVR has been suspended in all the 42 additional centres and confined to our State and Local Government offices except Nnewi South and Ogbaru LGAs where the exercise has also been temporarily suspended. Furthermore, in Kaduna State, the exercise has been suspended in Jema’a and Kaura as well large areas of Birnin Gwari and Giwa on account of insecurity in the four LGAs.
“In addition, two of our staff were abducted by bandits but later released in Isa LGA of Sokoto State while on voter registration duty. The Commission will keep monitoring and reviewing the situation nationwide, always bearing in mind the imperative of protecting the safety and security of our staff and registrants.”
Prof Yakubu, said the commission will continue to work with the security agencies for a peaceful electioneering and conduct of elections, adding that the Commission will hold high-level meetings with the security agencies and consultations with stakeholders immediately after the forthcoming national holidays.
