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President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Chris Isiguzo, made the pledge today, during a consultative meeting between the Commission and the Media, at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja.
Prof. Yakubu said the introduction of the online registration portal would ease the burden of enduring long queues at registration centres on eligible Nigerians. His words: โIn the next one week, i.e., Monday 28th June 2021, the Commission will resume the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) nationwide. In doing so, the Commission is introducing a portal to enable eligible Nigerians to commence registration as voters online before completing the exercise physically at designated centres nationwideโ.
Also commending the Commission for the innovation in introducing the online registration portal, the NUJ President called to deploy more technology in the electoral process. According to him, the deepening of our democratic gains through technology will drastically reduce some of the challenges we face as a country.
โAs usual, we want to also assure you of our commitment and our support at all times. We have this belief that we donโt have any other country we can call our own. Nigeria is the only country we have. Therefore, it becomes an onerous responsibility reposed in us to ensure that we help build the country of our dreams. We will not continue to throw stones and apportion blames. It is also incumbent on us to come up with workable solutions. At all times, the present crop of media professionals I can assure you are available to give you the necessary supportโ, the NUJ president assured.
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| President, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Chris Isiguzo (right), Nigerian Television Authority’s (NTA) Anchor, Good Morning Nigeria, Mr. Kingsley Osadolor (middle), and The Guardian’s Abuja Bureau Chief, Dr Bridget Onochie at the Commission’s Consultative meeting with the Media, held at the INEC Headquarters, Abuja, on 21st June 2021. PHOTO: ABIODUN AYODELE. |
Media professionals have resolved to support the Independent National Electoral Commission in its bid to resume the Continuous Voter Education (CVR) exercise on 28th June. They also commended the Commission for successfully converting Voting Points and Voting Settlements to polling units, afforming that the development would improve the countryโs electoral system.
President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Chris Isiguzo, made the pledge today, during a consultative meeting between the Commission and the Media, at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja.
Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood, had, in his remarks, appealed for the cooperation of the media for voter education. He noted that the success of the proposed exercise depended largely on citizensโ awareness. He said: โWe intend to undertake the CVR exercise for at least one year. The success of the exercise depends, to a considerable extent, on citizensโ awareness through voter education. There will be new registrants, requests for intra-State and inter-State transfers as well as the replacement of votersโ cards as provided by law.
He added: โFurthermore, with the relocation of voting points to underserved areas as autonomous polling units, there is a need for massive publicity so that citizens are familiar with their voting locations well ahead of all forthcoming elections. We appeal for your partnership to achieve this goalโ.
The INEC Chairman further explained that the success recently recorded by the Commission in breaking the 25-year-old jinx of converting Voting Points and Voting Point Settlements to polling units, thereby expanding votersโ access to polling units, has prepared the ground for the Commission to embark on the registration of eligible Nigerians as voters.
Prof. Yakubu said the introduction of the online registration portal would ease the burden of enduring long queues at registration centres on eligible Nigerians. His words: โIn the next one week, i.e., Monday 28th June 2021, the Commission will resume the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) nationwide. In doing so, the Commission is introducing a portal to enable eligible Nigerians to commence registration as voters online before completing the exercise physically at designated centres nationwideโ.
He continued, โthis is the first time a major exercise of this nature is handled partially online, consistent with the Commissionโs commitment to continue to deepen the use of technology in the electoral process in Nigeria. Just like the expansion of voter access to Polling Units, the Commission appeals to the media for support so that this novel idea will also be successful.โ
Responding, Comrade Isiguzo, commended the Commission for implementing some of the suggestions made by Media executives at previously held engagements. He said: โwhen the Electoral Body and the Media unite, clearly, there will be fertile grounds for democracy to thrive. I am happy that today one of the key issues that we discussed during our last meeting has materialized, and that has to do with creating or expanding voter access to polling units. And as weโve heard from the honourable Chairman, a feat that has been lacking for 25 years has just been achieved. We are so happy, and obviously, we are part of the success storyโ.
Also commending the Commission for the innovation in introducing the online registration portal, the NUJ President called to deploy more technology in the electoral process. According to him, the deepening of our democratic gains through technology will drastically reduce some of the challenges we face as a country.
He said: โI am happy that the issue of online involvement in electoral matters featured the last time. Iโm also happy that today, in line with global reality, the INEC has welcomed it. The process of digitizing our electoral system has just started, and it is quite commendable. I believe that by the time this process is effectively deepened, such issues, vices that have remained a major challenge to the delivery of credible elections, would have given way because, by the time these activities take place online, we would have substantially addressed our problemsโ.
Comrade Isiguzo continued: โmost of the key issues that continue to plague us as a people have their roots in the electoral process. Once we get the electoral process right, we would have appreciably addressed the major issues confronting us as a people. By the time electoral actors embrace the reality that if the people donโt vote for you, you lose elections, of course, they will begin to pander to the wishes of the people.
โBecause of this impression that they can always buy their way through, that is why they donโt care most of the time. But Iโm happy that things are getting a lot better because of the leadership weโve had in INEC for a while. I believe that we will also use the opportunity of the off-season elections that are coming up in Ekiti and Osun to cement further the progress we have had in the electoral process.
โAs usual, we want to also assure you of our commitment and our support at all times. We have this belief that we donโt have any other country we can call our own. Nigeria is the only country we have. Therefore, it becomes an onerous responsibility reposed in us to ensure that we help build the country of our dreams. We will not continue to throw stones and apportion blames. It is also incumbent on us to come up with workable solutions. At all times, the present crop of media professionals I can assure you are available to give you the necessary supportโ, the NUJ president assured.
