INEC Resumes Continuous Voter Registration in Edo and Ondo States

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the resumption of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) activities in Edo and Ondo states in preparation for the upcoming off-cycle governorship elections slated for September 21, 2024, and November 16, 2024, respectively. This initiative aims to ensure the inclusion of more eligible voters in the electoral process.

The National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, disclosed that the CVR officially commenced on Monday at 397 designated centers across the two states. However, following severe flooding at the INEC headquarters in Edo State due to heavy rainfall, the registration venue had to be relocated.

The flooding incident led to substantial damage to the INEC building and its contents, as reported by the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha. Significant items including office furniture, equipment, and even parked vehicles were affected by the flooding.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State expressed concerns over the damage caused by the flooding and requested INEC to cancel the registration exercise. The Acting Chairman of the APC in the state, Jarret Tenebe, urged the electoral body to consider the impact on their secretariat and equipment meant for the CVR.

Subsequently, INEC relocated the registration center to its office at Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area in Edo State to facilitate access for registrants. The commission distributed hard copies of the registration center locations to stakeholders and also shared the information on their official website and social media platforms for wider dissemination.

INEC highlighted that the CVR process allows eligible citizens to register as voters, transfer their registration, request replacements for lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and collect PVCs that are yet to be claimed. The commission encouraged all eligible voters in Edo and Ondo states to participate in the exercise to ensure their readiness for the upcoming elections.

During the monitoring of the registration exercise in Oredo, Egor, and Ikpoba-Okha local government areas, it was observed that the PVC collection was ongoing alongside the CVR activities. Speaking at the Ikpoba-Okha registration area, the INEC National Commissioner overseeing Edo, Delta, and Cross River, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, expressed satisfaction with the registration process and urged patience from registrants.

The State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, reaffirmed that despite the flood incident, INEC was well-prepared for the CVR exercise. He mentioned that both the CVR and PVC collection activities are scheduled for a ten-day period from May 27 to June 5, 2024, between 9 am to 3 pm daily, including weekends.