The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended invitation to 246 new applicants comprising of 82 from Edo and 164 from Ondo state to provide complete data so that they will be eligible to vote in the upcoming governorship election in both states.
National Commissioner & Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun in a statement on Thursday reported that the commission took the decision after it regular weekly Meeting where it considered matters arising from the last Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Edo and Ondo States, held from 27th May to 9th June 2024.
He said that the Commission is contacting the new registrants to come forward for validation of their biometric details in the same locations where they registered during the CVR, using the phone numbers and other details provided during the exercise. He said that the revalidation will take place from Monday 22nd July to Sunday 28th July 2024.
He said that the distribution of the 82 registrants in Edo State showed that they came 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.
He further noted that the 164 voters in Ondo State were from three LGAs. Eleven were from Ofosu/Onisere Ward in Idanre LGA, one voter in Ugbo Ward V in Ilaje LGA while the rest were from Ose LGA (eight in Imoru/Arimogija Ward and 144 in Okeluse Ward).
The statement reads, “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 Automated Biometric Identification System (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.
“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 22nd July to Sunday 28th July 2024”.
He assured that before the end of the week, the affected registrants will be contacted using the mobile phones and/or other contact details provided by them during the CVR.
The Commission also said that a comprehensive list of the affected candidates including their Polling Units, has been uploaded on their website and social media platforms for immediate action by the affected registrants and for public information.
It stated that 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.
The Commission pleaded with the affected potential voters to make themselves available for the exercise.
