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Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow people to process their voter registration ahead of the 2023 election in the country.
SERAP issued out a one-week ultimatum to Mahmood Yakubu to give room to seven million Nigerians to obtain their permanent voter cards (PVCs) and be eligible to vote in next year’s elections.
SERAP cited INEC’s disclosure that out of 10,487,972 Nigerians who pre-registered, only 3,444,378 completed the process at a physical center.
In a letter dated August 13, 2022, Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare said denying eligible citizens the opportunity to complete their registration will affect trust in the process.
SERAP accuses INEC of wanting to disenfranchise many Nigerians of the right to vote and choose candidates of their choice in the 2023 elections.
SERAP told INEC that the failure of the applicants to complete their registration at designated centers “are not sufficiently weighty to justify their exclusion”.
Oluwadare said the electoral umpire’s “proffered justification” of saving time and cost is insufficient.
“Administrative convenience is simply not a compelling justification in light of the fundamental nature of the right to vote.”
“Any proffered justifications of saving time and cost are therefore wholly insufficient. Administrative convenience is simply not a compelling justification in light of the fundamental nature of the right to vote.”
“This severe vote deprivation cannot be justified by any perceived considerations of saving time, especially because Section 9(6) of the Electoral Act 2022 provides that ‘the registration of voters, updating and revision of the Register of Voters shall not stop not later than 90 days before any election covered by this Act.’”
“Providing a fresh opportunity for the over seven million Nigerians to complete their registration would promote and preserve the right to vote, and ensure that legal and eligible voters are not inadvertently and unjustifiably turned away from exercising their fundamental right to vote.”
“By refusing the over seven million Nigerians the opportunity to complete the registration for their PVCs, INEC has unfairly, unreasonably, and unjustifiably denied them the opportunity to be heard at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner as to the reasons for not completing their registration.”
“Voter distrust is apparent in virtually empty polling places on election days. Nigeria historically has had low levels of voter turnout.”
“The Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) provides in Section 14(1)(c) that, ‘the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured by the provisions of this Constitution.’”
SERAP quoted Section 9(6) of the Electoral Act 2022 which states that voter registration should end 90 days before a major election in the country.