By Fisayo Ogunsakin with agency reports
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced high-level consultations with security agencies in Lagos State ahead of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise scheduled to begin later this month.
At a meeting held on Wednesday at the INEC headquarters in Sabo-Yaba, Lagos, key security stakeholders under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) convened to discuss strategies for securing the registration process.
Present at the meeting were representatives from the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Army, Department of State Security, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Correctional Service, Federal Road Safety Commission, Federal Fire Service, National Youth Service Corps, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Lagos, Prof. Ayobami Salami, said the meeting marked his first formal engagement with ICCES members since his assumption of office. He described the collaboration as essential to ensuring a safe and credible registration exercise.
“This meeting provides the platform for us to discuss our preparation and consider essential issues with respect to the security architecture of the state, and strategise in preparation for the exercise,” Salami said. “The success of this exercise hinges on the security and stability provided by your agencies.”
He stressed the need for synergy between INEC and the security bodies to guarantee peaceful registration, prevent electoral malpractices, and build public trust in the democratic process. Salami also pledged the commission’s commitment to working hand-in-hand with the agencies throughout the period.
Speaking on the details of the upcoming exercise, Mr Muyiwa Yussuf, INEC’s Head of Department, Voter Registration/ICT, said online pre-registration will commence on August 18, through the portal cvr.inecnigeria.org. Physical registration is set to begin on August 25 at the 20 local government INEC offices and the state headquarters.
Yussuf stated that the exercise will run year-round during weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., excluding weekends. He warned against double registration and underage enrollment, adding that such violations would be easily detected by the system.
Eligible participants include newly eligible voters who have turned 18, those needing to replace lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and individuals seeking to update their information or relocate their registration to a new area.
Lagos currently has 7,060,195 registered voters, with 6,214,970 PVCs collected and 845,225 uncollected as of February 2023, according to INEC records.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Lagos State Command, DCP Tijani Fatai, reassured the public of adequate security throughout the exercise. “It is our duty to protect lives and property—INEC and its officials are included,” he said. “Eligible residents should feel free to go out for registration as their security is guaranteed.”
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