Youths demand indefinite extension of voter registration as ex- APC spokesman alleges plot to hack INEC’S server
THE Unified Nigerian Youth Forum ( UNYF), yesterday, rejected the 60- day extension of the Continuous Voter Registration ( CVR) by Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC), saying the move would do little towards getting all Nigerians of voting age to register.
The commission had initially fixed the end of June for termination of the exercise. But given the number of potential voters seeking registration, the House of Representatives, last week, urged the electoral umpire to consider a 60- day grace period.
Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, Aishatu Jibril Dukku, confirmed the extension while briefing lawmakers, yesterday, saying: “The committee held a meeting with INEC yesterday ( Tuesday) and they agreed to extend the CVR. Also, all our resolutions were approved.”
The lawmakers also called on the commission to deploy additional staff and voter registration machines across the country for the exercise. B
UT in a statement, UNYF’S president, Abdulsalam Kazeem, said over 7.7 million members of the Forum, who will attain the age of 18 by September 3 and September 25, 2022 will be disenfranchised as a result of the new deadline.
He said: “Going by INEC’S proposal, the registration will stop by August ending. This shows that many eligible Nigerians will be deliberately disenfranchised, our members inclusive. It’s unconstitutional, shameful, unacceptable, illegal and outdated for INEC to propose closing its portal five months to general elections in the 21st century, where technology is the order of the day.
“We sincerely hope that INEC would reconsider extending the registration and validation exercise to cover the significant number of those who are willing but unable to get their PVCS till date.”
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EANWHILE, a former deputy publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress ( APC), Mr. Yekini Nabena, yesterday, alleged a plot by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) to hack INEC’S server.
Nabena, who spoke to reporters in Abuja, claimed the plot, which is being perfected in the United Arab Emirates ( UAE), is aimed at ensuring the defeat of APC in the 2023 presidential poll.
He, therefore, urged INEC to step up the protection of its server, to nip the plot in the bud.
He said: “I will plead with INEC to properly secure its server because PDP hackers are at work. They are not sleeping. They are test- running their system. I also call on Nigerians and real voters to be watchful and ensure that their votes are protected in 2023.”