NIN Mandatory for Voter Registration? INEC Clears Air, Releases Important Update
- NIN is not a compulsory requirement for voter registration
- This clarification was made by INEC on Thursday, April 1, in Abuja
- The electoral commission explained that NIN is just one among the list of alternative document Nigerians can present for the voter enrollment
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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has made a very crucial clarification concerning the forthcoming voter registration exercise.
During his press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, April 1, INEC's chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, explained that the National Identification Number (NIN) enrollment is not needed for the exercise, The Nation reports
Yakubu noted that according to the electoral act, the NIN is only one of the many means of identification for registration.
Source: Twitter
He stated:
“I want to make this important clarification. NIN is not going to be made mandatory for voter registration. This is for a simple reason that we are operating on basis of the law establishing INEC.
“Section 10 of the electoral act lists identifications to be presented by prospective registrants for the purpose of voter registration to include birth certificate, national passport, national identity card."
The INEC boss went on to mention that driver’s licence or any other document that would prove the identity and age of the applicant can also be used instead of NIN.
Earlier, INEC had announced that the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise would resume on June 28 across the country.
Speaking on Thursday, Yakubu made this known while addressing pressmen during a media briefing at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Professor Yakubu in a series of tweets shared on the commission's Twitter page explained that the exercise could not recommence majorly as a result of COVID-19.
He went on to note that the commission has set aside the Direct Data Capture Machine, and would introduce a new device, INEC Voter Enrolment Device (IVED).
The INEC boss revealed that the new device was developed by its in-house software engineers to be compatible with the android operating system.
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He hinted that the engineers were also developing a portal where Nigerians can register for the exercise to reduce the usual rush experienced and avoid breach of the COVID-19 protocols.
Source: Legit.ng
