The Independent National Electoral Commission has extended the deadline for the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration in Edo and Ondo states by four days.
This extension comes as both states prepare for their upcoming governorship elections later in the year.
Originally, the 10-day CVR exercise was scheduled to end yesterday. However, following a review and appeals from stakeholders, the INEC has decided to prolong the registration period.
INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, announced this extension in a statement made in Abuja. He noted that the Commission met on Tuesday and reviewed the CVR process in Edo and Ondo states, which was initially set to conclude on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.
“However, following appeals by stakeholders, the Commission has approved the extension of the exercise from Thursday 6th to Sunday 9th June 2024 to enable more eligible persons to register. Similarly, the duration of the exercise is extended from 9.00am – 5.00pm daily,” Olumekun stated.
In addition to extending the registration period, the number of registration centers has been increased. Initially available in 397 wards and the two state offices in Benin City and Akure, the CVR will now include all 36 Local Government offices in the two states.
More registration machines will also be deployed to areas with special needs, such as those with difficult terrain or communal issues. Information regarding the names and locations of the LGA offices has been uploaded to INEC’s website and social media platforms for the guidance of registrants.
The registration exercise has been progressing well in both states. As of Monday, June 3, 2024, eight days into the CVR, a total of 120,458 new voters had registered. Of these, 55,861 (46.4%) are male and 64,597 (53.6%) are female. The majority of registered voters, 82,003 (68.8%), are youths aged 18-34 years. Additionally, 43,419 registrants (36.8%) are students, while 812 (0.67%) are Persons with Disabilities. These are preliminary figures, with final data to be published after the exercise concludes and undergoes a data clean-up using the Automated Biometric Identification System.
“The Commission once again appeals to eligible voters to seize the opportunity of the extension to register, transfer or correct personal information on their PVCs as provided by law. No further extension will be granted by the Commission,” Olumekun emphasized.