The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a one-week ultimatum to INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu to give seven million Nigerians the chance to obtain their permanent voter cards (PVCs).
SERAP In a letter dated August 13, 2022, signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare and addressed to the INEC Chairman, said denying eligible citizens the opportunity to complete their registration will affect trust in the process of Elections in 2023.
Citing INEC’s disclosure that out of 10,487,972 Nigerians who pre-registered, only 3,444,378 completed the process at a physical center, the organization warned that it would impair their right to vote and choose candidates of choice in the 2023 general elections.
The organization said failure of the applicants to complete their registration at designated centers “are not sufficiently weighty for INEC to justify their exclusion, noting that the electoral umpire’s “proffered justification” of saving time and cost are insufficient.
SERAP, while reminding professor Yakubu that Section 9(6) of the Electoral Act 2022 provides that registration of voters, updating and revision of records shall not stop not later than 90 days before any election, added that administrative convenience is simply not a compelling justification in light of the fundamental nature of the right to vote.”