The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Edo and Ondo states by four days, ahead of the upcoming governorship elections later this year. Originally scheduled to end yesterday, the 10-day exercise will now conclude on Sunday, June 9, 2024.
INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, announced the extension in a statement released yesterday in Abuja. He explained that the decision followed appeals from stakeholders and a review of the ongoing CVR.
“Following appeals by stakeholders, the Commission has approved the extension of the exercise from Thursday, June 6, to Sunday, June 9, 2024, to enable more eligible persons to register. The duration of the exercise has also been extended to 9.00 am – 5.00 pm daily,” Olumekun stated.
He added that the number of registration centers has been increased beyond the initial 397 wards and the two state offices in Benin City and Akure, now including all 36 Local Government offices in the two states. Additional machines will be deployed to areas with challenging terrains or communal issues to facilitate the registration process.
Detailed information on the locations of the new registration centers has been uploaded to INEC’s website and social media platforms for the guidance of registrants in both states.
The exercise is progressing well, with 120,458 new voters registered as of Monday, June 3, 2024. Of this total, 55,861 (46.4%) are male, while 64,597 (53.6%) are female. The majority of registered voters (82,003 or 68.8%) are youths aged 18-34. Students comprise 43,419 (36.8%) of the registrants, and 812 (0.67%) are Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). These are preliminary figures, and final numbers will be published after data cleanup using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS).
Olumekun urged eligible voters to take advantage of the extension to register, transfer, or correct their personal information on their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) as provided by law. He emphasized that no further extensions will be granted.
