Fresh Showdown Looms As INEC Rejects Voter Registration Extension, Opposition Pushes Back

Opposition political parties have renewed calls for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, arguing that more eligible Nigerians should be given the opportunity to register before the exercise closes.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Despite the appeals, INEC has maintained that the registration exercise will end on Sunday as scheduled.

Speaking with Punch, the National Publicity Secretary of the Interim National Working Committee of the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ini Ememobong, said many Nigerians remain reluctant to register because they have lost confidence in the electoral body’s ability to conduct transparent and credible elections.

According to Ememobong, extending the registration period would promote broader participation in the electoral process and ensure that more eligible citizens are not excluded.

“Nigerians are becoming discouraged, and that has affected their willingness to register. Until INEC convinces the public that it is truly independent and capable of conducting free, fair, and credible elections, public participation will continue to suffer,” he said.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) also backed an extension of the exercise.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, argued that voter registration should remain accessible to Nigerians at all times rather than being restricted by fixed deadlines.

He explained that although the party had mobilised supporters across the country to participate in the exercise, many citizens found it difficult to abandon their daily activities and spend long hours waiting at INEC registration centres.

“We have encouraged people at the grassroots to register, but many Nigerians cannot afford to leave their businesses or jobs to queue for several hours at registration centres,” Abdullahi said.

The Labour Party shared a similar position, with its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, describing the planned closure of the registration exercise as inconsistent with the concept of continuous voter registration.

He argued that the process should remain open long enough to accommodate all eligible Nigerians, including young citizens who will attain the age of 18 before the elections.

According to Ifoh, allowing registration to continue until December would not disrupt INEC’s preparations for the polls.

“The exercise is called Continuous Voter Registration, and it should truly remain continuous so that everyone interested in participating in the electoral process has the opportunity to register.

“I do not see how extending registration, even until December, would interfere with INEC’s activities, especially since those registering are simply voters and not candidates.

“It is unfortunate that barriers are being placed before citizens who want to exercise their democratic rights. In many countries, possessing a national identity is sufficient to vote, but in Nigeria, the process is unnecessarily restrictive.

“Millions of Nigerians will celebrate their 18th birthdays before December. Are they expected to wait until another election cycle before they can register?” he said.