Extend Voter Registration By 60 Days, Reps Tells INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been asked to extend the deadline for voter registration by 60 days.

The directive was given by the House of Representatives today Wednesday, June 15 to give more eligible Nigerians to register and get their Permanent Voter Card and participate in the 2023 general elections.

With this, the registration will now end on June 30, 2022.

The resolution was reached on Wednesday June 15, following the adoption of a motion passed by Benjamin Kalu, a lawmaker from Abia state. He noted that the extension of the voter registration will enable many eligible Nigerians to get registered.

Kalu said;

“The large numbers of unregistered eligible voters willing to be registered as evidenced by crowd seen at various registration centres resulting in congestion.

“Reports of shortages of voter registration machines, inadequate manpower and personnel at registration centres which may lead to frustrations among prospective registrants and in some cases, unrest at some registration centres.

“The right to vote is critically important to the health and legitimacy of our democracy, as well as electoral integrity.”

The motion was adopted when it was put to a voice vote by Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house.

The house committee on electoral matters was then directed to engage INEC and ensure that the deadline for voter registration is extended by 60 days. They were also asked to engage with INEC to “examine and proffer solutions to the shortage of registration machines and manpower.”

The committee is to report back within two weeks for further legislative action.