INEC appeals for stakeholders collaboration to sensitise Gombe State residents on CVR

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has appealed to all stakeholders in Gombe State to assist the commission in sensitizing the public on the gains of the current Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, through their various platforms.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Gombe State, Mr. Umar Ibrahim made the appeal during a meeting with stakeholders on the CVR, urging them to emphasis more on the transfer of voters to new Polling Units nearest to their residence.

Mr. Ibrahim said the meeting was part of efforts aimed at creating enormous awareness for the ongoing registration and ensuring that Gombe State maximized the gains of the expansion of Voter access to polling units, embarked upon by the Commission earlier in the year.

He said in Gombe State, the commission had converted 770 voting points into full-fledged polling units, bringing the total number of polling units in Gombe State to 2,988, aimed at reducing overcrowding.

According to the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Gombe State, online registration portals, www.cvr.inecnigeria.org or www.cvr.inec.gov.ng, are provided to allow new voters to pre-register and schedule an appointment on a convenient date for the biometrics capture, to improve voter experience, make the conduct of future elections voter-friendly and ensure compliance with global best practices.

Mr. Ibrahim said the aim was to reduce the stress registrants and staff suffer, reduce overcrowding at registration centres, hasten the registration process and create room for compliance with COVID-19 safety protocols.

He said the services available were for new registration of people from 18 years of age, those who pre-registered online but missed their appointments and wish to reschedule another appointment online within 14 days for their biometrics capture and those who have registered but were to review their information by providing photos online.

According to him, providing photos online is mandatory for those who wish to request for transfer, information update or replacement of PVC.

He encouraged registered voters to transfer to the new polling units nearest to their residence in order to avoid having polling units with zero registrants.

“Transfer can be Inter-State or Intra-State. The list of PUs can be accessed on the Commission’s website: www.inecnigeria.org/elections/polling-units/, Information Update – for registered voters who wish to update or correct the information on their PVC e.g. age, gender, wrong spellings etc. Lost or Damaged PVC – for those who wish to request for replacement of their lost or damaged/defaced PVCs. Collect your PVC – this service is used to find out where one can pick his/her PVC when it is ready,” Mr.  Ibrahim said.

He said the commission had updated the system of registration by replacing the Direct Data Capture Machines, with the INEC Voter Enrolment Device, IVED, designed by the staff of the Commission.

Ibrahim said the IVED had been deployed for in-person registration, which commenced since July 26, 2021, at the INEC State Office and the INEC Offices in the 11 LGA in the State, saying with the device, pre-registrants can spend a maximum of 2 minutes for the capturing of their biometrics at the registration centre.

The Gombe State Resident Electoral Commissioner said by the morning of August 26, about 57,128 persons had applied or requested for different services available on the online portal, but that 12, 251 people in the state had either completed their registration with biometrics capture or had presented themselves for in-person registration.

He said the registration centres were opened to the public from Mondays to Fridays from 9 am to 3 pm with the exception of Public Holidays.

Mr. Ibrahim said plans were underway for the deployment of additional IVEDs to rural areas, to give eligible registrants, who do not have access to the internet, the opportunity to also register.

Emmanuel Ukoh