… Rules out dedicated cybercafé, registration centres
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has launched an online portal for eligible voters to register ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said on Thursday in Abuja, on the resumption of the continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise that the portal was created for intending registrants to commence the process online.
“We are now ready to resume the CVR on Monday next week. We have acquired all the equipment for the exercise, updated our registration software and planned for the deployment of 5,346 staff to the 2,673 registration centres nationwide. Among the equipment for the exercise is a new registration machine called the INEC Voter Enrolment Device (IVED).
“This device is built around the concept of a tablet computer and will replace the lap-top based old Direct Data Capture Machine (DDCM). I am glad to say that our engineers designed the IVED in-house before it was fabricated abroad. It is more mobile and efficient than the DDCM and could also be deployed to other activities, particularly the accreditation of voters during elections. The new machine will be unveiled at this press conference,” Yakubu said.
He said that in its determination to serve Nigerians better during the CVR and in response to repeated calls by stakeholders, the commission is introducing a dedicated portal for online registration.
He, however, warned that the online registration is a public service and therefore free of charge and that there is no INEC-approved cybercafé, no online registration centre and no scratch card to be purchased for the exercise.
“All you need is a device, including your mobile phones that can connect to the internet. Citizens can complete the online pre-registration anywhere and at any time they choose,” he said.
According to him, the idea is for intending registrants to commence the process online by filling the forms and uploading their pictures and required documents, and then make an appointment on the web portal for a date and time to visit an INEC State or Local Government Area (LGA) office to give their fingerprints and complete the registration.
He added that those who are already registered as voters can carry out all the other activities like transfers, correction of personal details and replacement of damaged or defaced Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) online.