Double Registration: Defaulters Won’t Be Disenfranchised

The Independent National Electoral Commission has said that those who embarked on double registration for Permanent Voters Card will not be disenfranchised.

The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye disclosed this to our correspondent on Sunday.

Okoye explained that double registrants are not entitled to new PVCs, noting that the commission did not print their cards.

He said the commission decided to retain their previous valid registration in order not to completely disenfranchise them.

He said “Only registrants that met the constitutional and legal requirements for registration will collect their Permanent Voter Cards. Those that engaged in double and multiple registrations are not entitled to new Permanent voter Cards and the commission did not print their cards.

“The commission decided to retain their previous valid registration in order not to completely disenfranchise them and such individuals can vote with their previous cards.”

Okoye, however, described double or multiple registration and possession of more than one PVC as an electoral offence.

He added “Individuals that engage in double and multiple registrations and who go to the collection centres to cause confusion, insult, and assault some of our staff risk arrest and prosecution.

“It is an electoral offence to engage in double or multiple registrations and or possess two or more PVCs.

“The commission has printed the Permanent Voter Cards of all those that applied for a transfer. We have also printed and delivered the cards of those who applied for replacement because of loss, damage or defacement.

“All those that applied for transfer must collect their cards in the new local government offices of the commission where they intend to vote and not in the local government where they were transferred unless it is the same.”