The Forum of Special Assistants To Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi from Nsukka Zone (Enugu North Senatorial Zone) in Enugu State, have concluded the arrangements needed for them to embark on the sensitization of the people of Nsukka Zone to partake in the ongoing Independent National Electoral Commission Voter Registration Exercise.
The forum which came up with the information shortly after their meeting at VigGwill Hotels and Suites Nsukka yesterday, said that the move was considered necessary because of the carefree attitudes of some people towards having themselves registered by INEC so as to be eligible to vote or be voted for.
Speaking to newsmen on behalf of the Forum of Special Assistants To Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi from Nsukka Zone, the Zonal Chairman, Mr. Laz Ogbonna, said that the sensitization exercise will be carried out in all the six LGAs that make up Nsukka Zone (Enugu North Senatorial Zone).
Ogbonna explained that the forum will in the course of the INEC voter sensitization exercise meet with stakeholders of each of the LGAs to educate them on the need to take the sensitization message down to the people in their various wards and communities adding, “We will equally provide the stakeholders with sensitization materials that they will share to the people so as to understand the importance of their participation in the voter registration exercise.
“We want our people to come out en-mass to partake in the INEC Voter Registration exercise so that our capacity as the Senatorial Zone in Enugu State with the highest population will be maintained.”
He commended the Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for finding the members of the forum worthy to work with him as his Special Assistants promising that they would continue to make him proud in all ways to ensure that he succeeds as the Governor of Enugu state from Nsukka Zone.
Ogbonna also commended the members of the forum on behalf of the newly selected Executive members for finding them worthy to pilot the affairs of forum.
The high point of the meeting was the selection of Executive members that will pilot the affairs of the forum by the members present. The said Executive members selected to pilot the affairs of the forum are Hon. Lazarus Ogbonna, Chairman; Hon. Prince George Ehizonaga, Deputy Chairman; Hon. Emmanuel Ikechukwu Jonathan, JP, Secretary; Hon. Festus Onogwu, Treasurer; Hon. Simon Okechukwu, PRO; Hon. Ugochukwu Ukwueze, Legal Adviser and Hon. Emma Ugwuja (Ogoja) Organising Secretary.
FirstNews recall that in a statement titled “Continuous Voter Registration: Media professionals, the Independent National Electoral Commission, had disclosed its bid to resume the Continuous Voter Education and also introduced the online portal for registration.
The INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, had said that the online registration will help to reduce the burden of long queues during CVR.
He equally said, “In the next one week, Monday 28th June 2021, the Commission will resume the Continuous Voter Registration nationwide.
“In doing so, the Commission is introducing a portal to enable eligible Nigerians to commence registration as voters online before completing the exercise physically at designated centres nationwide”.
“This is the first time a major exercise of this nature is handled partially online, consistent with the Commission’s commitment to continue to deepen the use of technology in the electoral process in Nigeria
“Just like the expansion of voter access to Polling Units, the Commission appeals to the media for support so that this novel idea will also be successful.”
While speaking on the duration of the CVR, Yakubu stated that the exercise will last “for at least one year.”
“The success of the exercise depends, to a considerable extent, on citizens’ awareness through voter education. There will be new registrants, requests for intra-state and inter-state transfers as well as the replacement of voters’ cards as provided by law,” he Said.
It is important to also note that INEC has rescheduled the physical registration from July 19 to July 26.
In a statement on Friday, Festus Okoye, INEC national commissioner and chairman, information and voter education, said with the federal government’s declaration of July 20 and July 21 as public holidays, the date had to be adjusted.
“Consequently, the physical registration of voters will now commence on Monday 26 July 2021. Online registrants that have scheduled appointments from 19th July 2021 to 23rd July 2021 will have their appointments rescheduled,” the statement reads.
“It is important to emphasise that this Continuous Voter Registration will take place over a period of one year. The Commission assures all Nigerians that no citizen eligible to register as a voter will be left behind.”
INEC had on June 28 launched an online portal where citizens can register or request to update their voter information before they complete the process physically at designated centres across the country.
The commission had said 66 percent of applications received so far on the online portal are from youths.“Out of 542,576 online registrants so far, 356,777 (or 66%) are young people between the ages of 18 and 34 years. This is followed by 134,719 middle-aged registrants who fall between 35 and 49 years. The third category is elderly persons aged between 50 and 69 years of which 44,896 Nigerians have registered,” it said.
