By Nosa Akenzua,
The Independent National Electoral Commission, ( INEC) on Monday called on Nigerians to resist foreigners from taking advantage of the ongoing Continuous Voters’ Registration, ( CVR) exercise to compromise the 2023 general elections.
Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Monday Udoh who spoke to Journalists in Asaba said, “Unless Nigerians invite foreigners to register in our locations, it will not be possible.Let me use this medium to appeal to Nigerians not to allow foreigners register for the exercise because at the end of it all it will not serve us well.”
He said, “When the registrant comes for the person registration, he will answer certain questions as regards of him and if he is a foreigner, he will not be able to provide those answers satisfactorily. Even on the online platform, there are certain questions that are required to be answered before one can proceed to the next level”.
Udoh noted that the at registration center, there are Party agents, including monitors, adding that “if such persons see a Cameroonian for example who claimed to be from their Local Government Area, they will ask such an individual certain questions”, stressing that if ascertained that he is a foreigner, he or she would be handed over to the relevant authorities as there will be two security men at every registration center.
Udo disclosed to Orient Weekend that a provision had been made for NIN number adding that, “So far, if a foreigner has got that number, you cannot blame INEC for that. Every registrant is expected to provide their NIN number and at some point in the online registration, you will be asked if you would want INEC to link your information with your NIN number while it’s still optional is because there is no law backing it”.
The Electoral Commissioner further urged Deltans, including other Nigerians to log onto WWW.Cvrinecnigeria.org for online voters’ registration before proceeding to book appointment for the in-person registration at their designated INEC centers in their respective Local Government Areas
His words, “We are advising people to take advantage of the available time, nobody should wait for the last one week or for an extension. We are advising people to go and register and obtain their PVCS after registration because without it they will not be allowed to vote during the elections’