By Dayo Omoogun
The Independent National Electoral Commission will commence the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in the first quarter of next year (2021).
The Acting Chairman of the Commission Air Vice Marshall Ahmed Muazu announced this during a virtual meeting with the leadership of political parties on Tuesday.
“The Commission intends to roll out the nationwide programme in the first quarter of 2021 and work is in progress towards that goal. We need your inputs to guarantee its smooth take-off and hitch-free conduct of the exercise”, Muazu said.
While commending the political parties for the way they conducted themselves during the recently concluded Edo and Ondo States governorship elections, the acting Chairman tasked them on the strict observance of the Commission’s voters code of conduct for elections during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Commission sincerely appreciates the role played by the leadership of political parties and their candidates towards ensuring that the elections were generally peaceful and safe within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He added that “They (Edo and Ondo elections) were acclaimed as credible and peaceful.
“All your effort, including the signing up to the letter and spirit of the Peace Accord and adherence to the Commission’s voters code of conduct for elections during the COVID-19 pandemic is fully acknowledged.
“Nevertheless, the Commission feels that there is room for improvement. We would therefore welcome your feedback on the conduct of the elections,” he noted.
On the leadership crisis rocking the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), the Acting Chairman recognised the Leonard Ezenwa faction.
Mua’zu stated further that “on the CVR, let me resolve this issue once and for all. We have been working with the Ezenwa leadership and for the purpose of this meeting, I appeal we continue with them. We can revisit at a later date.”
All the protests and complaints by the National Chairman of Labour Party, Abdukadir Abdulsalam, the second faction embroiled in the crisis, was ignored.