2023: INEC releases methodology for claims, objections on voters’ register

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the methodology for claims and objections in the register of voters by Nigerians.

INEC spokesman Festus Okoye disclosed this in a statement, issued on Friday.

Mr Okoye said INEC, at its weekly meeting on Thursday, deliberated on the approved methodology for the display of the entire national register of voters for claims and objections by citizens as required by law, ahead of the general election.

“As earlier announced by the commission, the entire preliminary register containing 93,522,272 registrants will be published. The exercise will last for two weeks, from November 12 to 25. The physical copies of the register will be displayed in all the 8,809 registration areas (wards) and 774 local government areas on a polling unit basis nationwide,” the INEC official explained. “For the first time, the soft copy of the entire register will also be published on the Commission’s website (visit www.inecnigeria.org/display_register and follow the instructions).”

Mr Okoye said the register would contain the registered voters’ name, picture, date of birth and Voter Identification Number (VIN). He, however, said for data protection and security reasons, critical information such as biometric details, residential addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses of voters would not be made public.

Mr Okoye further stated that during the display, individuals could claim that the name of a registered voter had been omitted and could make corrections to their details on the register.

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“As the exercise commences on Saturday, November 12, we appeal to Nigerians to seize the opportunity to scrutinise the register. They should draw the commission’s attention to any corrections in their personal particulars and any malicious registrations, multiple registrants, non-Nigerians or any other person not qualified to be on the register,” the INEC national commissioner stated.

Mr Okoye said detailed clarification on the processes and procedures for the exercise, including relevant forms, could be obtained from INEC ’s officials at the points of display at registration areas (wards) and local government areas.

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“By the provisions of the law, cleaning up the voters’ register is a collective national responsibility. So far, the commission has weeded out ineligible registrants using our Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS),” he further stated. “By working together with citizens, we can clean the register further as it is the critical foundation for credible elections.”

(NAN)