INEC Flags Off Continuous Voters Registration Exercise in Osun, Warns Against Multiple Registration

By Abdulrofiu Agboola

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun on Thursday flagged off the continuous voters registration exercise in Osogbo, in line with the Commission’s national programme.

Flagging off the exercise at the INEC Osogbo Local government office, the Administrative Secretary, Mr Ademilure Emanuel , said the exercise is not a party affair but a system of accommodating new voters for future elections.

According to Emmanuel, the exercise that is starting on Thursday does not have an end time, but there would always be a quarterly review of an additional registration centre approved by the Commission in Modakeke area office.

He said the requirement for taking part in the new registration exercise is that; a registrable adult must be a Nigeria and of 18 years of age and above.

“Non Nigerians can not participate in the exercise, and any foreigner caught would be handed over to the appropriate agencies.

“A registrable voter must also be physically present as the registration centres as registration by proxy would not be allowed.” he said

Emmanuel further said for the convenience of voters that have relocated from where they were residing during the last registration, they can register at their new location, but must submitted their old registration documents with INEC for new registration.

He said Nigerians living outside the country, those incarcerated, sick and predispose to register during the last registration exercise should also use the new opportunity to register.

He said the registration would take place between Mondays and Fridays (with the exceptions of public holidays) and that INEC staff would be attending to people between the hours of 9am and 3pm daily.
The Osun INEC Administrative Secretary stressed that the continuous registration is not a party affair, but a way of upgrading INEC voters database so that those that has just attained the age of 18 and those that were not captured in the last exercise would be accommodated.

He however called on religious bodies, political parties, social groups and the media to support the Commission and help sensitize and mobilize the people that have not registered to come out and register

Emmanuel warned against multiple registration, saying penalty would be await any culprit.