The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has clarified that it is at the moment conducting a comprehensive Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), to Clean-up all its registration data.
This clarification followed the alarm raised by the Coalition of Opposition Political Parties, CUPP, that the INEC Database has about 10 Million Fake Registrants.
In a statement made available to Newsmen by the National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee Barr Festus Okoye, the Commission said that it recognizes and respects the right of citizens, either as individuals or groups, to demand an explanation from public agencies, including INEC, and to hold them accountable, but caution must be exercised so that such interventions do not unwittingly sow doubts in the public mind, thereby diminishing public confidence and trust in the electoral process.
The Statement noted that based on the Electoral Act 2022, any record that does not meet all the criteria for inclusion as stipulated in Section 10, including the appearance in person by the registrant at the registration venue with proof of identity, age and nationality and major requirements of an adequate number of fingerprints and clear pictures will be invalidated.
It said, for now, no new registrant has been added to the Register of Voters for the 2023 General Election or will be included until the supplemental activities, which will involve scrutinising and invalidation of ineligible Registrants, who registered from 28th June 2021 to 31st July 2022 have been completed in line with the law.
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INEC further noted that it is only after the cleanup, claims and objections have been completed that the final register will be published.
The statement revealed that in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State, where INEC allegedly registered ineligible persons, it has successfully invalidated 3,316 ineligible registrants and the process is still ongoing.
The Commission however appealed to the public to await the display of the register for claims and objections to erase any concerns that they may have about the registration and seek their support and cooperation as it deals with the cleanup of the register and other processes that would guarantee that the general election in 2023 is free, fair, credible and inclusive.
Editor: Ena Agbanoma
