CVR: INEC warns Kwara politicians against multiple registration

The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kwara, Malam Garba Madami, has warned politicians in the state against encouraging multiple registration in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).

Madami gave the warning on Thursday during a stakeholders’ meeting at the INEC office in Ilorin.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the stakeholders’ meeting was attended that the Commissioner of Police, represented by ACP Wison Akpan, representatives of registered political parties, Civil Society Organisations (CSO), NURTW, RTEAN, NYSC state coordinator, the NLC chairman and Electoral Officers in the 16 local government areas in Kwara.

The REC said double or multiple registration amounted to an offence under the Electoral Act and was punishable by a fine or imprisonment.

Madami told the gathering that the purpose of the meeting was on the new polling units in the state.
He said INEC was worried that during the Edo governorship election, the new polling units have no voters, adding that the commission did not want this to repeat itself during the 2023 general elections.
According to him, before the conversion of voting points to polling units, Kwara has 1,872 polling units, adding that additional 1,015 polling units were created, bringing the total to 2,887.

He added that the reason for the expansion of polling units was to move them closer to the people.

According to him, polling units were created last in 1991, adding that many of such communities and settlements that have sprung up since 1991 have no polling units.

The REC said that electoral officers in all the 16 local government areas and officials from the state headquarters would soon meet with leaders in the local governments to ensure that the new polling units have voters allotted to them.

He also appealed to leaders of political parties in the state to mobilise their followers to register and obtain their voter cards.
Madami added that Kwara was in seventh position in the country in terms of the registration of voters.

He said INEC has registered a total of 118,580 voters since the commencement of the CVR in July 2021.

The REC said Osun was on top followed by Delta, with Bayelsa coming third, while Rivers, Kano and Anambra were in fourth, fifth and sixth positions, respectively.

He promised that INEC would continue to do its best in Kwara to ensure free, fair and credible elections.

ACP Akpan, representing the Commissioner of Police, assured political parties that the police would always provide adequate security during elections.
He reminded the political parties that the ban on political campaigns has not been lifted, hence there should be no campaign until the ban was lifted.

Akpan also warned political parties to desist from utterances that can heat up the polity in the state

Akpan also warned political parties to desist from utterances that can heat up the polity in the state.
Representatives of the political parties commended the INEC management in the state for doing a good job and appealed for inclusion in the activities of the commission. (NAN)