Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise to at least 90 days before the next General Elections to enable more Nigerians to participate in the democratic process.
Obi made the appeal after visiting an INEC Continuous Voter Registration Centre in Enugu on Friday, shortly after attending the graduation ceremony of the Millennium College of Nursing Sciences in Awka.
Sharing his experience, the former Anambra State governor said he was impressed by the conduct of the registration exercise and the orderly manner in which eligible voters were being attended to.
According to him, “I was pleased to witness an orderly and well-organised registration process. I also met a number of people patiently queuing to register, demonstrating their commitment to participating in our democracy.”
Obi praised the officials of the electoral commission for their commitment to ensuring a smooth registration process.
He said, “I commend the INEC staff for their dedication and professionalism.”
While applauding the ongoing exercise, Obi stressed the need for a longer registration period to allow more eligible citizens to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards before the elections.
He urged the electoral body to make the exercise available for at least 90 days before the General Elections, saying this would provide more Nigerians with the opportunity to register and actively participate in choosing their leaders.
Obi maintained that wider voter participation would further strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and improve the credibility of the electoral process.
He ended his message with his familiar call for national renewal, declaring, “A New Nigeria is POssible.”
