By Ismaila Biliaminu Manne
Ahead of Edo and Ondo States Governorship election, the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) held a second quarterly consultative meeting with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Abuja, on Wednesday, 15th May 2024, to have a discourse on the upcoming elections in two states at the southern part of Nigeria.
The meeting, headed by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and members of the Commission, meet with Media Organizations at the ongoing quarterly consultative meeting in Abuja, with the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, President and Council Members of the NIPR, Senior Officials of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), Media Executives and Heads of Various Media Organisations, Editors and Senior Journalists, National Commissioners of INEC, Secretary and Other Senior Officials of the Commission, and Members of the INEC Press Corps, among others in attendance.
The Harbinger media gathered that the Commission and CSOs held their first meeting for the year about two months ago on Thursday, 21st March 2024, where the commission had briefed about the 9 bye-elections and 38 re-run elections in 26 States of the Federation held on 3rd February 2024.
However, the second consultative meeting is to update representatives of the CSOs on preparations for the Edo and Ondo State Governorship elections, which will be held on Saturday, 21st September 2024, for Edo State, and Saturday,16th November 2024, for Ondo State.
INEC To Commence Continuous Voter Registration
On the INEC X page (formerly Twitter), the commission stated that early this week, it announced the plan to resume the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) as part of our preparations for the Edo and Ondo State Governorship elections. “As you are aware, the Edo State Governorship election is held in the next four months on Saturday 21st September 2024 while the Ondo Governorship election is held in the next six months on Saturday 16th November 2024.
“In the next few days, the Commission will commence the training of at least 794 officials for the CVR exercise. The locations of the registration centers as well as other relevant information have been compiled in a detailed 28-page document included in your folders for this meeting.
“The same information has already been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for public information,” it stated.
Moreover, part of the discussions are the guidelines for the CVR exercise that will take place in both states, starting on Monday 27th May 2024, to Wednesday 5th June 2024, from 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. daily including the weekend.
It furthered that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise scheduled to take place from Monday, 27th May 2024 to Wednesday, 5th June 2024, is specifically for residents of Edo and Ondo States.
“This registration process will be conducted simultaneously at ward-level and state headquarters offices in both states from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm daily, including weekends.
“We kindly request residents of Edo and Ondo States to take advantage of this opportunity to register and update their voter information during the specified period,” it read.
Through the INEC Chairman, the statement clarified that the CVR exercise is not a nationwide exercise and is focused on Edo and Ondo States only. It will enable eligible citizens who are not registered voters to do so.
“Similarly, registered voters also have the opportunity to transfer their registration from other States of the Federation to Edo and Ondo States or from one location to another within the States. Lost or damaged voters’ cards will be replaced during the exercise.
“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 registration is illegal,” said the INEC Chairman
