The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has countered allegations by the Coalition of Political Parties (CUPP) on the register of voters for the 2023 elections describing them as unfounded and inaccurate. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) further restated that, since the end of the continuous voter registration exercise, no fresh registrant was added or
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has countered allegations by the Coalition of Political Parties (CUPP) on the register of voters for the 2023 elections describing them as unfounded and inaccurate.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) further restated that, since the end of the continuous voter registration exercise, no fresh registrant was added or subtracted from the voters’ register.
INEC further called for caution by the political class so that their interventions do not unwittingly sow doubts in the public mind, thereby diminishing public confidence and trust in the electoral process.
“Based on the Electoral Act 2022, any record that does not meet all the criteria for inclusion as stipulated in Section 10, including the appearance in person by the registrant at the registration venue with proof of identity, age and nationality and our business rules requirements of adequate number of fingerprints and clear pictures will be invalidated.
“It is important to reiterate that no new registrant has yet been added to the register of Voters for the 2023 General Election or will be included until these supplemental activities have been complimented in line with the law.
A statement issued by Festus Okoye, its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee further clarified on Thursday. The statement reads:
“The attention of the commission has been drawn to a report of a press conference addressed by the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) on the Register of Voters for the 2023 general election.
“The commission recognises and respects the right of citizens, either as individuals and groups, to demand explanation from public agencies, including INEC, and to hold them accountable.
“However, it is always important that caution is exercised so that such interventions do not unwittingly sow doubts in the public mind, thereby diminishing public confidence and trust in the electoral process,” he said.
Mr. Okoye said that Nigerians would recall that on July 31, the commission suspended the CVR to commence supplemental activities that would culminate in the integration of new registrants into the final register of voters for the 2023 General Election.
“It Is important to reiterate that no new registrant has yet been added to the Register of Voters for the 2023 General Election or will be included until these supplemental activities have been completed in line with the law.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we restate the main components of these activities.
“First, the Commission is conducting a comprehensive Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) clean-up of the registration data by scrutinising every record.
“Based on the Electoral Act 2022, any record that does not meet all the criteria for inclusion as stipulated in Section 10, including the appearance in person by the registrant at the registration venue with proof of identity, age and nationality and our business rules requirements of adequate number of fingerprints and clear pictures will be invalidated.
“Further, in line with Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, after the ABIS and clean up, the Commission shall appoint a period of seven days during which the register will be published for scrutiny by the public for objections and complaints.
“Finally, it is only after the clean-up and claims and objections have been completed that the final register will be published,” he said.
Mr. Okoye said that INEC would continue to provide the public with updates on the progress made on the processes.
“The ABIS for the period of registration between Jan. 15 and July 31 is being concluded presently, and the outcome in terms of multiple and ineligible records will be made public.
“For instance, in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo, where the commission allegedly registered ineligible persons, 3,316 ineligible registrants have so far been invalidated and the process is still ongoing,” he said.
Mr. Okoye appealed to Nigerians to await the commission’s display of the register for claims and objections, so they can raise any concerns that they might have on the registration.
He reiterated that “ABIS was robust and would detect practically all ineligible records for removal.
“Nigerians should be reassured of the commission’s commitment to the credibility of the electoral process in Nigeria.
“We appeal for your support while we painstakingly deal with the clean-up of the register and other processes that will guarantee that the general election in 2023 is free, fair, credible and inclusive,” he said.
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) had on Tuesday raised an alarm that some forces have begun adulterating the voters register of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
It also alleged that a court case has been initiated secretly to compel INEC to stop the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
It claimed INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, is under pressure to drop the commission’s hard stance on compulsory use of the BVAS or get sacked.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, CUPP spokesman, Ikenga Ugochinyere, said the coalition discovered a suit, to that effect, at the Owerri Federal High Court, filed on August 24, 2022.
The coalition also displayed extracts of the national voter’s register, which it claimed were part of, at least, 10 million fake registrations done by one of the political parties.
It alleged that names were sourced from within and outside Nigeria, including African countries, such as Ghana, Cameroun, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Togo, Guinea, Gambia, and foreign nations, like Jamaica, Brazil and New Zealand.
It also showed several registrations, which it claimed were captured from passport photographs and other photos.
Ugochinyere said what was more curious about the discoveries in the register was the fact that many of the foreign names were all born in 1983.
But the Independent National Electoral Commission has debunked all the allegations and reassured Nigerians of its commitment to conduct a free, fair and credible elections in 2023.
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