The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State on Thursday commenced the continuous voter registration exercise with a warning that anybody caught with multiple registration will face the penalty.
Speaking at the flag off of the exercise at the INEC Osogbo Local government office, the Administrative Secretary of the commission, Mr Ademilure Emmanuel explained that the target of the commission for the exercise is for those that are just attaining the age of 18 to register and then have the chance to vote in the coming general elections.
Emmanuel explained further that the exercise would also give opportunity for those people that were unable to register during the last registration exercise may be due to illness or they were not in the state or country.
The exercise which he said would last till 60 days to the next election in the state is not a party affair but a system of accommodating new voters for future elections.
Emmanuel stated that for voters who have relocated from where they were residing during the last registration, they can register at their new location, but must submit their old registration documents with INEC for new registration.
His words: “The continuous registration is not a party affair, but a way of upgrading INEC voters’ database so that those that have just attained the age of 18 and those that were not captured in the last exercise would be accommodated.
“Non Nigerians cannot participate in the exercise, and any foreigner caught will be handed over to the appropriate security agency.
“An eligible voter must also be physically present as the registration centres as registration by proxy will not be allowed.”
The Osun INEC Administrative Secretary said the registration will take place between Mondays and Fridays (with the exceptions of public holidays) between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m daily.
Emmanuel then called on religious bodies, political parties, social groups and the media to support the commission and help sensitize and mobilize the people that have not registered to come out and register.
Packaged by Bunmi Oladejo
