• Says governorship polls: hold in Anambra Nov 6, 2021; Ekiti June 18, 2022; Osun July 16, 2022
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), today, Monday, June 28, 2021, commenced its earlier announced Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) via a dedicated online portal.
The CVR exercise, according to INEC, Nigeria’s apex electoral body, is an online-based registration available for new voters’ pre-registration.
Those already registered and have acquired their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) can also review “Your Voter Registration; Request to Update your Information; or Transfer your Voter Registration to another Polling Unit via this portal: https://cvr.inecnigeria.org to begin.”
“This portal allows you to Update Your voter registration information, Pre-Register as a new voter, Transfer your voter registration to another polling unit, Replace your damaged or lost PVC and find Registration Centres near.” — INEC.
Recalled, INEC had announced the introduction of a portal to enable eligible Nigerians register as voters online after which they are expected to complete the exercise physically at designated centres across Nigeria.
INEC said the portal was designed by its engineers and produced overseas.
With this exercise, INEC said it is projecting a total of 20 million new registrations before the end of the CRV exercise.
INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu, recently introducing the exercise, said “it is the first time voter registration is handled partially online.”
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Yakubu speaking at a recent quarterly meeting of the commission with the media, said the innovation was consistent with the “Commission’s commitment to continue to deepen the use of technology in the electoral process in Nigeria.”
He begged the media for support in creating awareness about the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
Yakubu said: “The expansion of voters’ access to polling units prepares the ground for the discharge of another important responsibility of the commission. The registration of eligible Nigerians as voters is one of the immediate tasks before the Commission.
As a result, he said INEC said, on Monday, June 28, 2021, the commission will resume the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) nationwide. In doing so, the INEC is introducing a portal to enable eligible Nigerians to commence registration as voters online before completing the exercise physically at designated centres nationwide.
“This is first time a major exercise of this nature is handled partially online consistent with the Commission’s commitment to continue to deepen the use of technology in the electoral process in Nigeria. Just like the expansion of voter access to Polling Units, the Commission appeals to the media for support so that this novel idea will also be successful.
“The CVR will be a major issue for discussion at this meeting. The Commission will demonstrate the procedure for the proposed online registration and also present the new INEC Voter Enrollment Device (IVED) to you shortly.
“We intend to undertake the CVR exercise over a period of at least one year. The success of the exercise depends to a considerable extent on citizens’ awareness through voter education. There will be new registrants, requests for intra-State and inter-State transfers as well as the replacement of voters’ cards as provided by law.
“Furthermore, with the relocation of voting points to underserved areas as autonomous polling units, there is need for massive publicity so that citizens are familiar with their voting locations well ahead of all forthcoming elections. We appeal for your partnership to achieve this goal.
“The commission will also brief you about the preparations for the forthcoming Anambra State Governorship election scheduled for 6th November 2021 and the Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) holding on 12th February 2022.
“As you are already aware, the Commission has released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the two major off-season Governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States holding on 18th June 2022 and 16th July 2022 respectively. We have since uploaded the details on our website and social media platforms. However, hard copies of the same documents are contained in your folders for this meeting,” INEC Chairman said.
Yakubu further disclosed that the commission was working on the INEC burnt offices, but would also make alternative arrangements including renting new facilities not owned by politicians to serve as temporary offices.
Then, on the security arrangements, he said the commission was also working to secure the new registration facilities and the personnel that will be deployed for the voter registration exercise.
