The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has invited 246 new voters that participated in the recently concluded Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Edo and Ondo States for biometric validation, after discovering the poor quality of their biometric details.
Following the CVR held between 27th May and 9th June 2024, the Commission displayed the preliminary register in 395 Wards in both States for one week to allow for claims and objections, in accordance with Section 19 of the Electoral Act 2022.
Thereafter, the Commission ran the register through its Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) and discovered that the quality of biometric details of 246 applicants or 0.1 percent of the 269,992 new registrants did not meet the threshold for seamless accreditation, using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which is mandatory under Section 47(2) of the Electoral Act 2022. The implication is that the 246 individuals could face accreditation issues on election day if the errors discovered are not corrected.
Eighty-two of the affected voters are in Edo State while 164 are in Ondo State. Specifically, the 82 affected Registrants in Edo State are from four Local Government Areas (LGAs), comprising 10 from Uwessan Ward 1 in Essan Central LGA, 2 in Emu Ward, Essan South LGA, 69 in Ofunama Ward, Ovia South West LGA and one voter in Irhue Ward in Uhunmwonde LGA.
In the same vein, the 164 voters in Ondo State are from three LGAs: Eleven are from Ofosu/Onisere Ward in Idanre LGA, one voter in Ugbo Ward V, Ilaje LGA, while the rest are from Ose LGA (eight in Imoru/Arimogija Ward and 144 in Okeluse Ward).
Following the discovery, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education (IVEC), Mr Sam Olumekun in a statement issued after the Commission’s regular meeting held on 18th July 2024, invited the affected voters to come forward for the validation of their biometric details at the same locations where they registered during the CVR between Monday 22nd July and Sunday 28th July 2024. He said the affected Registrants would be contacted before the end of this week using the mobile phone numbers or other contact details they provided during the CVR.
He added: “A comprehensive list, including their Polling Units, has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for immediate action by the affected registrants and for public information.
At the end of the exercise next week, the Commission will provide the final detailed breakdown of the new registrants in the two States, followed by the timetable for the collection of PVCs. We urge the affected registrants to come forward for the validation exercise.”