Politics
By Anthony Isibor.
PROF. Mahmood Yakubu, National chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said that the dates for all activities in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election are firm and fixed.
Speaking at the public presentation of the plans in Lagos on Thursday April 21, 2022, the Yakubu advised all stakeholders to take this into consideration in planning their activities.
“As you may be aware, the election will be conducted for 1,491 constituencies nationwide made up of 1 presidential constituency, 109 senatorial districts, 360 federal constituencies, 28 governorship elections and 993 state constituencies. The election will involve an estimated one million electoral officials (both permanent and temporary or ad hoc staff) deployed to 176,846 polling units in 8,809 Wards and 774 Local Government Areas across the country.
“The election will be governed by a new Electoral Act 2022, which contains many progressive provisions that will enhance the capacity of the Commission to conduct elections and manage the electoral process better.
“INEC plays a critical role, but the Commission alone cannot deliver the elections we all desire. I therefore appeal to all Nigerians to join hands with us in ensuring that we make a success of the process,” he said.
Yakubu also added that the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise will end on 30th June 2022 and all eligible voters that are yet to register are advised to do so on or before that date if they intend to vote.
Similarly, he said that the PVCs of validly registered voters from the first and second quarters are already available for collection at designated centres nationwide.
“I would like to appeal to all Nigerians who registered between June and December 2021 to collect their Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, in person as no PVCs will be collected by proxy.
“Let me also reassure those who registered between January and March 2022 as well as those who are doing so until the end of the exercise that their PVCs will be ready for collection long before the 2023 General Election.
“For emphasis, the Commission once again reiterates that PVCs have no expiry dates. We want to assure all registered voters that PVCs issued by the Commission remain valid for all elections. We have encouraged those who lost their voters cards or whose cards are damaged to approach any of the registration centres to apply for replacement.
According to him, the claim that PVCs expire is misleading.
He also encouraged voters who had issues with their accreditation in previous elections to revalidate and update their information.
“In addition, those who wish to transfer their registration from one location to another within a particular state or to relocate entirely to another state of the federation can do so at any of the registration centres nationwide.
“These steps are in compliance with the law in order to serve Nigerians better.
“Citizens are therefore advised not to register more than once as multiple registration is an offence under the Electoral Act. Anyone engaged in the act of double or multiple registration is liable to prosecution. No citizen should engage in it or encourage others to violate the law, adding that from next week, the Commission will conclude the revision of the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
“Work has also commenced on the review of the manuals for the training of election duty personnel. With the planning processes virtually completed, the Commission will now focus its attention on election technology and election administration,” he added.
AI.
Apr. 23, 2022 @ 12:09 GMT
Tags: INEC Prof. Mahmood Yakubu
