The Enugu State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Emeka Ononamadu, says the independent national electoral commission (INEC) has commenced another round of voter registration exercise where 14 million voters are expected to be captured with the help of a newly introduced INEC Voter Enrolment Device (IVED) machine.
Ononamadu made this known on Monday while addressing stakeholders on the essence of the excercise and to sensitise them on the need for over 700,000, new registrants to be expected in Enugu State.
Ononomadu however disclosed that the registration would commence online first before the physical registration would take place.
He explained that INEC chose the registration online as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and to give prospective voters better opportunity to register without coming on queues as done in the past. This according to him would make the process easy and accessible and so INEC had evolved a new registration machine that would capture voters data better during the registration exercise.
“Among the equipment for the exercise is a new registration machine called INEC Voter Enrolment Device, IVED. This device is built around the concept of a Tablet computer and will replace the laptop based old Direct Data Capture Machine, DDCM.
“This new method is aimed at reducing queue inline with COVID-19 safety protocols as well as ensuring speed and inclusiveness as the Commission targets about 14 million new registrants nationwide, as INEC State office Enugu targets over 700,000 new registrants and transferees,” Ononomadu explained.
He pointed out that in their desire to serve Nigerians better, they have dedicated a portal online registration whereby intending voters can register online conveniently using their phones, laptops and other electronic gadgets without going to registration points.
“In our desire to serve the citizens better during this CVR, and in response to repeated calls by stakeholders, the Commission has introduced a dedicated online registration. The idea is for intending registrants to commence the process of online by filling forms and uploading their pictures and required data and documents, before making appointment on the web portal for a date and time to visit our state office here in Enugu or any of the 17 local government area offices of INEC to give their fingerprints and complete the registration.
“In addition, those who are already registered as voters can carry out all the other activities such as transfers, correction of personal details and replacement of damaged or defaced Permanent Voters’Card, PVCs, online.
“We hope that through this portal, we shall reduce overcrowding at our registration centres, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, make the registration processes easier, thereby giving Nigerians a pleasant electoral experience,” Ononamadu pointed out.
Ononomadu noted that by this process, INEC will ensure that no voter would be disenfranchised especially since the exercise will come at no cost to the voter.
“I must reiterate that the Commission has severally made it known that the online registration is a public service and therefore free of charge. You can use your phone, tablet, desktop, laptop or you can use a cybercafe.
“There is no INEC-approved cybercafe, no online registration centre and no scratch card to be purchased for the exercise. All you need do is a device, including your mobile phones that can connect to the internet. Citizens can complete the online preregistration anywhere and at any time they choose,” he explained.
Ononamadu also allayed the fears of those that may not have access to register online.
“At this point, let me allay the fears expressed by some citizens that many prospective registrants may be disenfranchised by the new digital arrangement.
The Commission is aware that not all Nigerians have computers, smart phones, access to the internet or residing in urban and suburban areas. Some citizens may also have one form of disability or another to make it impossible for them to register online, therefore, some centres have been created where citizens can register physically nationwide. No eligible Nigerian who desires to vote will be disenfranchised or left unregistered,” Ononamadu assured.
Suzan O
