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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that 45 per cent of the total number of registered voters across the country have been discovered to be invalid.
INEC, while describing the development as worrisome, said the Commission will continue to clean up the voter’s register to eliminate invalid registration and ensure that only eligible Nigerians are registered.
The INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this known at press conference in Abuja.
He stated that the invalid registrations will not be included in the register of voters, adding that the information will be uploaded on the Commission’s website and social media platforms.
He said: “Presently, nearly 45% of completed registrations nationwide are invalid, rising to as high as 60% or more in some states. This infraction happened in all states of the federation. No state is immune from it.
“This development is worrisome because of the time and resources expended in handling these cases. Even more disturbing are the strong indications that some of our staff may be complicit in facilitating these infractions, notwithstanding stern warnings.
“Consequently, the Commission is reviewing reports on such staff and has commenced a detailed investigation which may include the prosecution of those found culpable.
“Specific registrants associated with these infractions by our staff may also face prosecution in line with Sections 22 and 23 of the Electoral Act 2022.
“I wish to seize this opportunity to request political parties, the media, civil society organizations and the general public to assist the Commission in educating Nigerians about the problem of invalid registration.
“As we have repeatedly explained, if you had at any time in the past registered to vote, you do not have to reregister. If you have registered in the past, you should not get involved in the CVR again unless you have had problems with your PVC or fingerprint recognition during accreditation in any previous election.
In that case, all you need to do is to revalidate your registration by visiting a designated registration centre to recapture your fingerprints and picture.
“Other registered persons who may also get involved in the CVR are those whose PVCs are missing or defaced; those whose details need correction and those seeking to transfer from their current places of voting to other locations.
“These cases do not involve new registration. Apart from these, the CVR is essentially for Nigerians who have attained the age of 18 years and have not registered earlier.”
Speaking on the availability of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs), the INEC Chairman said the Commission has printed 1,390,519 PVCs for new registrants, who registered between January and March 2022.
Yakunu added that the new PVCs would be delivered to INEC offices across the country during the Easter holiday.
He said: “After completing the data clean-up, the Commission has printed 1,390,519 PVCs for genuine new registrants. In addition, 464,340 PVCs for verified applicants for transfer or replacement of cards have also been printed.
“Consequently, a total of 1,854,859 PVCs are now ready. They will be delivered to our state offices across the country over the Easter holiday. They will be available for collection by the actual owners in person immediately after the holiday. No PVC will be collected by proxy.
“I must reiterate that the available cards only cover those who registered in the First and Second Quarters of the exercise.
“The Commission wishes to assure those who registered between January and March 2022 as well as those who are doing so right now that their PVCs will be ready for collection long before the 2023 general election.”
While speaking on the gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun states, Yakubu noted that cards for all new voters in the states, who registered between June and December 2021, have been printed.
He added that the PVCs would also be delivered to INEC offices during the Easter break.
He further assured that all registered voters would get their PVCs before the governorship elections in the states.
The INEC Chairman stated: “The Commission is aware that new voters in the two states, as well as those who applied for transfer or replacement of their lost/damaged PVCs, are anxious to know when their voters’ cards will be available for collection.
“To begin with, the cards for all new voters in the two states who registered between June and December 2021 have been printed. They are among the cards to be delivered to the states of the Federation during the Easter break.
“For the two states, the Commission also devolved the registration to Ward level and thereafter suspended the exercise.
“The remaining PVCs for Ekiti State will be ready later this week while those of Osun State will be ready in two weeks. All registered voters will get their PVCs before the two governorship elections.”
Speaking on the party Primaries for the 2023 general election, Yakubu stressed that activities in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 election, including the conduct of party primaries, were firm and fixed.
He noted that ten political parties have served notices to the Commission for the conduct of their primaries.
“With 52 days to the last day for the conduct of primaries (i.e. 3rd June 2022), political parties are once again admonished to adhere strictly to all dates in the Timetable, including the nomination of their candidates via the INEC web portal.
“Such nominated candidates must emerge from valid primaries as provided in Section 84 of the Electoral Act 2022.
“This is necessary to avoid the unhappy consequences of any breach of the Commission’s Timetable or the Electoral Act,” the INEC Chairman added.
Yakubu, therefore, appealed to Nigerians, who registered between June and December 2021 to collect their PVCs in person.
“As we devolve the voter registration beyond our state and local government offices nationwide, the PVCs will also be available at such designated centres in our effort to make the collection easier for voters.
“In addition, we will also contact the 1.8 million registrants by email and text messages on the availability of the cards and the places to collect them,” he stated.