The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it may suspend the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in August.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, at a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday 5th July,2018, said from previous experience, the timeline required from the close of registration to the point of production and issuance of PVCs to prospective voters was about 120 days.
“This time span is required for the purpose of claims and objections and other backed activities including running the Business Rules and Automated Fingers Identification System (AFIS)”.
“Another 30 days is required from the date of PVC production to the point of issuance to registered voters for the purpose of quality assurance, packaging and movement from the Central Store to the respective state and Local Government Area offices”, he explained.
Yakubu also disclosed that the commission had ended CVR in Ekiti and Osun states ahead of 2019 general election.
He said that the commission had already concluded the exercise at ward level in the two states where governorship elections will be conducted in July and September respectively.
Yakubu also said that the commission would give the needed attention to collection of PVCs to ensure that the prospective owners of uncollected cards did so ahead of 2019.
Clarifying the commission’s decision to enhance Smart Card Readers (SCRs) ahead of 2019 general election, Yakubu said it was to improve the functionality of the existing SCRs, adding that it was not to buy new ones.
This is a call to all eligible to vote, go out and save the future of this great country by registering for a PVC.