INEC orders removal of 190 non-Nigerians from voters’ register

*Decentralises CVR in Anambra

In its determination to clean up the nation’s voters’ register, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ordered the removal of 190 non-Nigerians from the Register of Voters’.

Similarly, the Commission has decentralised the on-going nationwide Continuous Voters’ Registration (CVR) Exercise in Anambra state to the Registration Areas, ahead of the governorship election in the state scheduled for Saturday November18, this year.

This was confirmed in the Commission’s daily bulletin issued yesterday in Abuja and signed by Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi.

The Commission explained that the removal of names of the 190 non-Nigerians from the Register of Voters was in a sustained bid to clean up the voters’ register.

It would be recalled that the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) recently announced that it had retrieved several Permanent Voters’ Cards and National Identity cards from foreigners who were alleged to have registered as voters.

According to the bulletin, “INEC has continually reiterated that it would not rest on its oars at ensuring that the Voters’ Register was free from unqualified registrations in order to ensure the register of voters’ met internationally accepted standards.”

The Commission said it would continue to strengthen its relationship with security agencies and other organisations in ensuring that the electoral process is improved.

On the issue of the governorship election in Anambra State scheduled for Saturday, November 18, 2017, INEC said it has decentralised the on-going nationwide Continuous Voters’ Registration (CVR) Exercise to the Registration Areas.

The Registration Area level CVR exercise in Anambra, according to the commission, which began yesterday would continue till Tuesday, August 15, 2017.

According to the bulletin, “The move by the Commission to decentralise the registration from the 21 Local Government offices to the 326 Registration Area’s in the state, is aimed at bringing the exercise closer to the people as well as to ensure every eligible Nigerian in the state was captured in the exercise.”

The Commission however warned that the Registration Area CVR exercise in Anambra, should not be misunderstood for a fresh voter registration, but should be seen as an opportunity for eligible citizens who have not registered before and those whose names were not found on the voters register to get registered.

The bulletin added, “The CVR exercise also provides a window for those who wish to transfer their registration details to another location to do so, as well as to provide room for those who have lost their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) to apply for replacements.

“The Commission would display the register of voters in Anambra State at the registration centres from Wednesday 16th August to Sunday 20th August, to enable registrants check the details of their registrations and seek for correction where necessary.

“The CVR exercise in Anambra state will officially be suspended on the 16th of August, 2017 until after the governorship election to enable the Commission print and distribute the PVCs of all registered voters in Anambra state,” it said.