Extends CVR exercise in South East
By Ezeocha Nzeh
Ahead of the June 18 governorship election in Ekiti state, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the final list of candidates and their political parties for the election
A statement issued Tuesday by the commission’s National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, indicates that 15 out of the 18 registered political parties fielded candidates and their deputies for the election
INEC has earlier published the personal particulars and list of candidates (Form EC9) for the Osun State Governorship election in its State and Local Government offices as required by law.
“In compliance with the Electoral Act 2022, the Commission hereby publishes the final list of candidates for the election following the close of nominations by political parties.
“The Commission wishes to remind political parties that under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2022, any party that observes that the name of its candidate is missing from the list “shall notify the Commission in writing, signed by its National Chairman and Secretary, supported with an affidavit not later than 90 days to the election”. The statement read
INEC further drew the attention of parties to Section 32(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which provides that failure to notify the Commission “shall not be ground to invalidate the election”.
Meanwhile, the commission said it has extended the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise in Southeast region.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in charge of Enugu State, Dr Emeka Ononamadu, made the disclosure in Enugu during INEC Engagement with Critical Stakeholders on the Ongoing Fourth Quarter of CVR
Ononamadu said that INEC had graciously added more time on days for the CVR registration in Southeast to accommodate for the Monday’s disruption, adding “It is now from 9am to 5pm but previously from 9am to 3pm.”
The REC who attributed the low turnout to CVR registration to fear, insecurity and some people with the old stereotype of votes not counting, appealed to electoral stakeholders to mobilise more registrants to participate in the in Enugu State.
He lamented that the registration figure of Enugu State had remained low, adding that “after three quarters of CVR registration we are having about 31,000 in Enugu State”.
He disclosed that the commission would move its CVR registration to political wards and open up more means of polling units transfer especially for the newly created 1,000 polling units in the state during the fourth quarter of the exercise.
“The new polling units will make polling booths closer, polling activities seamless and easy; while INEC will publish the new polling units by next week and paste it in public places within the state.
“We have done only 3,000 transfers in the state and our people should make more transfers to the new polling units to lessen distance and cumbersomeness.
“I am appealing to the media, traditional rulers, Presidents-General, religious leaders and youth leaders to help us mobilise and enlighten our people on the need to go for their CVR registration,” Ononamadu said.
