Reps Backs Mascot Kalu, Seeks Extension Of Voters Registration

As the deadline for the ongoing registration of voters draws nearer, the House of Representatives has backed the APP governorship candidate in Abia State, Hon. Mascot Uzor Kalu in the call for the county’s electoral umpire, INEC to extend the deadline.

This is to enable more Nigerians who have not been captured in the country’s voter register to be documented in order to participate at the upcoming 2023 general elections.

The governorship hopeful on the platform of the Action Peoples (APP), who has been a vocal voice in the unconditional extension of the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) by INEC wants a great number to adult Nigerians to be part of the electoral process m

In a letter dated April 12, 2022, and addressed to the INEC Chairman and copied to the President, Senate President, the Senate Committee on INEC, Speaker House of Representatives, the Chairman House Committee on INEC, IPAC, and other relevant stakeholders, Hon. Mascot argued that the proposed closure of the CVR by the Electoral Commission would contravene the relevant substantive sections of the 2022 Electoral Act (as amended).

Citing Part III, section 9(6) of the Act, the former Chief of Staff to the Abia government further argued that such closure of the voters’ registration would amount to a flagrant disregard of the Electoral Act, which states that “the registration of voters, updating, and revision of register of voters shall stop not later than 90 days before elections.”

In line with Hon. Mascot’s view, the House of Representatives on Wednesday, 15 June 2022, asked INEC to extend the deadline for the continuous voters registration by 60 days (2 months).

The House adopted this resolution after a motion moved by Hon. Benjamin Kalu, the Spokesperson of the House.