A coalition of Civil Society for Good Governance (CCSGG), an umbrella body to about twenty advocacy groups on Friday peacefully protested to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) asking for the extension of Continuous Voters Registration (CVR).
The group said INEC should leverage on citizens’ willingness to register ahead of the 2023 general election, stating that those who intend to register have been coming out in large numbers, but there are inadequate manpower and equipment to attend to them, a development they said has led to long queues.
Convener of the Coalition, Prof Theophilus Ndubuaku in a letter to the National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu which was received on his behalf at the INEC headquarters by the Assistant Director of Security, Mrs Endurance Babangida, insisted that large numbers of people spread across the six geopolitical zones of the country were yet to register.
He said the quest to register has turned so bad that “bribe for registration”, was being witnessed in certain areas of the country.
Prof. Ndubuaku acknowledge that the deadline for registration had been previously extended many times but appealed that the umpire should consider extension so as not to disenfranchise anyone.
He said: “This appeal is anchored on information reaching us from several parts of the country, across the six geopolitical zones that large segments of the population have not been able to register, even after queuing at various centres.
“If this deadline is not extended, millions of Nigerians will be disenfranchised and this problem may enhance the narrative of marginalisation, which cannot augur well for democracy in Nigeria.
They urged INEC to address lapses of human resources and deploy more machines if the exercise is extended from Sunday 31 July for some weeks.
Another co-convener, Mr Rowland Dandy reminded the electoral umpire of the provisions in the amended Electoral Act, which allows for the extension of the voter registration exercise.
He said the long queue was largely, as a result of the unavailability of INEC staff and other logistic challenges, noting that the umpire can request funding to enable them to carry out the exercise successfully.
Reacting, the Independent National Electoral Commission speaking through Mrs Endurance Babangida, said, the request would be looked into.