The continuation of continuous voter registration for the 2023 elections has been justified by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Originally, the exercise was supposed to terminate on June 30.
About two weeks ago, the Federal High Court in Abuja blocked INEC from ending the voter registration process.
Festus Okoye, INEC National Electoral Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, said the case regarding the earlier deadline imposed by the commission was still pending when he confirmed the extension of the election on Thursday.
He said: “The matter came up on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, and based on the request of the commission, the court granted an accelerated hearing and adjourned the matter to Monday, July 4, 2022, for hearing of the substantive matter. The commission will give an update after the court hearing next week.”
Okoye further stated that the commission was interested in registering all eligible Nigerians for the 2023 polls and future elections, regardless of the court’s ruling.
He declared that the deadline of July 15 for the submission of the lists and specifics of candidates for governor and State Houses of Assembly remained in effect.
The official said: “By the timetable and schedule of activities released by the commission, political parties that conducted valid governorship and State Assembly primaries shall upload the list and personal particulars of their nominated candidates between July 1 and 15, 2022.
“We urge political parties to scrutinize the list and personal particulars of the candidates they propose to sponsor at the election to avoid any mix-up and duplication of names. Political parties are advised not to wait until the last day before uploading the list and personal particulars of their candidates.
“The candidates’ nomination portal will shut down at 6 pm on July 15, 2022. Political parties that have challenges with uploading documents should contact the Commission’s Help Desk, through the dedicated telephone lines or contact the candidate nomination centre at the Commission’s Headquarters.”
