…as flood forces INEC to relocate registration centre
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will today, Monday, May 27, commence the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise across the 192 wards in Edo State.
According to INEC, the CVR exercise became necessary in order for persons that turned eighteen years and above to register for their voters card. Also, those who wish to transfer their voting centre within Edo State can do so and those whose PVC has been damaged can request for a new card.
The CVR exercise will hold from 9am to 3pm daily including weekends and it will end on June 5th, 2024. INEC has warned that those who have registered before should not register again in order to avoid double registration as it is a criminal offense to register more than once.
INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, at a meeting with the leaders of political parties held at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday, May 13, said, “Let me reiterate that the CVR is only open to new registrants and those who seek to transfer their registration. Persons who are registered as voters should not attempt to register again as double or multiple registrations are illegal.
“Lost or damaged voters’ cards will be replaced during the exercise but this does require fresh registration,”
The INEC Chairman also stated that the Commission has decided to conduct the registration at Ward level and its State headquarters instead of its Local Government offices and a few designated centres as was the case in the past taking into consideration the limited time to the governorship elections.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission has announced a change in venue for the upcoming Continuous Voter Registration in Edo State following severe flooding at its State Headquarters in Benin City.
The flooding, caused by torrential rain on Friday damaged the building and its contents.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, disclosed this in a press release on Saturday.
Olumekun said the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Edo State, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, reported that both movable and immovable items, including parked vehicles, office furniture, and equipment, were submerged.
Among the affected items were several voter enrollment machines configured for the CVR.
“Our Resident Electoral Commissioner for Edo State, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, has reported that our State Headquarters in Benin City was completely flooded following a torrential rainfall yesterday Friday, May 24, 2024.
“Preliminary assessment shows that the heavy downpour damaged a section of the building. Movable and immovable items were submerged, including vehicles parked at the premises, as well as office furniture and equipment,” Olumekun stated.
Olumekun said INEC would dispatch additional machines from neighbouring states.
“The Commission is delivering additional machines from the neighbouring states to make up for the shortfall.
“We are determined to ensure that the CVR in all the 192 Wards across Edo State will proceed on Monday, May 27, as scheduled,” he said.
Due to the flooding, the State Headquarters will no longer serve as a registration centre, Olumekun added.
“However, in view of the emergency, the State Headquarters will not serve as a registration centre as planned.
“Instead, the exercise will now take place in our Ikpoba Okha LGA office located at 16 Customs Road, off Benin/Auchi Road, Benin City.
“Meanwhile, the attention of the security agencies and emergency services have been drawn to the incident,” the National Commissioner noted.
