It is now possible for voters to transfer their registration status to a new residence, according to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Attahiru Jega.
Prof Attahiru Jega, INEC chairman.jega
He faulted claims of election militarisation, arguing that there are no facts to prove that the large security presence disenfranchise voters.
Jega, who was delivering a lecture at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), said the transfer of registration is necessary because of the ban on movement on election day.
His words: “Voters can transfer their registration status. If you have changed the residence where you registered to a new area, you still have an opportunity to vote.
“All you need to do is to apply through the resident commissioner’s office and request for a transfer of your registration status. It is a simple thing to do. The Commission will only require some information from you and it is done. Your card will be sent to you in your new area of abode and you will vote there.”
Jega urged people to understand why there is ban on movement on election days.
“Unregulated movement is exploited by thugs and it can be terribly disruptive. If you check the cost-benefit analysis of movement restriction, you will know that the benefit of the sacrifice outweighs the cost.”
He acknowledged “security challenges” facing the INEC, but said it is doing its best “under very difficult circumstances” and also deployed technology to checkmate election rigging.
“We should have no soldiers or perhaps little security presence but that is an ideal situation. We cannot do a successful election without a credible security. The facts do not show that the large security presence has stopped voters from exercising their voting rights.
“We recorded massive turn-outs in both the Ekiti and Osun (governorship) elections.”
Cross River State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini, had earlier announced in Calabar that voters will only register once for the permanent voter cards (PVCs) throughout their lifetime.
He cautioned voters to secure their cards because they may not have an opportunity get a new one except the first registration is destroyed.
Igini explained that “the PVC is a smartcard identity that contains the bio-data of all persons who are qualified to register. It has the biometrics and facial image. It has security features that make it impossible for it to be replicated.
“With the PVC, we have come to an end. PVC is registered once in a life time. There is room for replacement in future, but I want to strongly advise that it should be securely kept. This is a treasured identity, keep it in a very safe place.”
Anyone who misplaces his voter card can obtain a new one at the polling unit where he registered in 2011.
“For the purpose of PVC collection, the public should know that no card can be collected by proxy. It is an offence to sell or buy a PVC. Offenders will be punished as stated in Section 25 of the Electoral Act which stipulates two years imprisonment,” Igini warned.