Our Reporter, Abuja
Nzuko Umunna has called the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to extend the deadline for voter registration.
The group, an Igbo socio-cultural think tank with members both in Nigeria and the diaspora, made the call through a press statement issued on Tuesday by its national secretary, Ngozi Odumuko.
According to the statement, the group says it has “observed the unprecedented turn out of Nigerians, especially the youths, in various states across the federation for voter registration,” a development that it said came after INEC had suspended its online registration on May 30, 2022.
Nzuko Umunna expressed its concern that if INEC goes ahead with its June 30, 2022, deadline for the registration of voters, many intending citizens will not be registered and consequently be disenfranchised during the elections.
It therefore called the election management body to ensure that every Nigerian who visits a registration centre in any part of the country is duly registered to exercise his or her civic responsibility.
The group also urged INEC to ensure enough security to protect intending registrants especially in places where hoodlums attack people who have come to register.
It further notes that the renewed interest of citizens to participate in the nation’s electoral process is a positive one for our democracy, which should be encouraged by the electoral management body and all political stakeholders.
The full text of the press statement made available to Ikengaonline read:
“Nzuko Umunna has keenly observed in the past one week the unprecedented turn out of Nigerians, especially the youths, in various states across the federation for voter registration. This development is coming after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had suspended its online preregistration on 30th May 2022 but later hearkened to the calls for an extension.
“We note that this development is a positive one for our democracy as it signifies increasing interest of the citizens to participate in the electoral process and therefore should be encouraged by the electoral management body and all political stakeholders in the country. It also shows growing confidence in the electoral system. We commend INEC for this.
“Nzuko Umunna equally commend various religious bodies, civil society groups and individuals of all walks of life who, since the voter registration exercise began, have been encouraging the citizens to register and be able to vote during elections. Some churches and other groups have gone further to offer their buildings to INEC to serve as temporary registration centres, while a good number of people in different states have also assisted with logistics to help fasten the registration process for the citizens.
“Sequel to the call by some notable political figures for INEC to make provisions for eligible Nigerians to register, the electoral umpire on Friday 10 June 2022, announced the deployment of additional 209 registration machines to Lagos, Kano and states in the South-East where the Commission has noticed large turnout of unregistered voters for the exercise in recent times. This is also commendable.
“Nzuko Umunna, however, notes with concern that with the current turnout of people who want to register in different states, if INEC goes ahead with its plan to suspend voter registration on 30 June 2022, a lot of the citizens will be left unregistered and therefore, disenfranchised during the 2023 elections.
“We, therefore, call on INEC to as a matter of concern extend the deadline for continuous voter registration to enable all eligible Nigerians register and be able to vote during elections.
“Nzuko Umunna urge the Commission to ensure that all Nigerians who visit registration centres are given opportunity to register in all parts of the country where they reside no matter their tribe or religious affiliation as voting during elections is one of the civic obligations of every eligible citizen.
“We also request that INEC should make provisions for security in places where hoodlums invade to disrupt the exercise. The Commission should also deploy more personnel and registration machines to registration centres where there is large number turn out of unregistered voters, to fasten the process and avoid keeping people stranded and discouraged to continue with the exercise.”
