Ahead of the 2024 off-cycle gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo states, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the Continous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise which was initially set to end on June 5th, 2024.

According to a statement issued today by Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the commission approved the extension in response to appeals from relevant stakeholders to allow more eligible people to register for the upcoming elections in the two states.

Additionally, Mr. Sam Olumeku stated that the exercise’s time has been extended from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The commission will be deploying additional machines to areas identified as having unique needs, such as challenging terrain or communal issues, he stated.

According to the INEC spokesperson, all 36 of the Commission’s local government offices in the two states have been added to the list of centres, which now includes all 397 wards and the two State offices in Benin City and Akure. He also urged the citizens to further participate actively in the exercise.

The statement partly reads, “Following appeals by stakeholders, the Commission has approved the extension of the exercise from Thursday 6th to Sunday 9th June 2024 to enable more eligible persons to register.Similarly, the duration of the exercise is extended from 9.00am – 5.00pm daily.

“Furthermore, the number of centres has been increased beyond the 397 wards and the two state offices in Benin City and Akure to include all the 36 Local Government offices of the Commission in the two states.

“More machines will also be deployed to areas identified to have peculiar needs such as difficult terrain or communal issues.

“Like the ward registration centres, detailed information on the names and location addresses of the LGA offices has also been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for the guidance of registrants in the two States”, he said.

“Meanwhile, the exercise is progressing well in the two States. As at yesterday, Monday 3rd June 2024, eight days after the commencement of the CVR, a cumulative total of 120,458 new voters have registered. Of this figure, 55,861 (46.4%) are male while 64,597 (53.6%) are female. Majority of the registered voters (82,003 or 68.8%) are youths (18 -34 years). In terms of occupation, 43,419 or 36.8%) are students while 812 (0.67%) are Persons with Disability (PWDs). The public should please note that these are preliminary figures. The final figures will be published on State by State basis and for all categories of registrants at the end of the exercise and after data clean-up using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS).

“The Commission once again appeals to eligible voters to seize the opportunity of the extension to register, transfer or correct personal information on their PVCs as provided by law. No further extension will be granted by the Commission.