2023: Lawmakers Ask INEC To Extend Voter Registration By 60 Days

The House of Representatives has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the deadline for continuous voter registration (CVR) by 60 days.

This follows the adoption of a motion by a member of the House, Benjamin Kalu from Abia State.

This recommendation was raised during the plenary session on Wednesday, and the lawmakers adopted the motion.

Recall that the electoral umpire had fixed the deadline for the suspension of CVR across the country ahead of the 2023 general election for June 30.

Moving his motion, the lawmaker said the extension of the voter registration will enable many eligible Nigerians to get registered.

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

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

The house subsequently mandated the committee on electoral matters to engage INEC and ensure that the deadline for voter registration is extended by 60 days.