By Amby Uneze
A non- governmental organization (NGO), Democracy Network (DemNet) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to permanently leave their portal open to enable young people who turn 18 years to register without hassles.
Speaking at a one-day campaign programme held at the Imo State University, Owerri, tagged '#register 18' the Dem Net Team Lead, Barr. Uzoma Aneto highlighted the need for continuous voter registration in the country in order not to disfranchise people from voting during elections.
The campaign which was done in conjunction with the Students Union government (SUG) of the institution had target audience of students whose participation were mostly law students of the institution.
According to her, Dem Net operates in over 18 African countries which Nigeria is one of them and it is working towards improving democracy principles in these countries and the States of the country, adding that Democracy Network Nigeria chose #register18 campaign as a base of making sure that no adult of voter age is disfranchised.
Aneto maintained that the Electoral Act Sec. 12 deals about registration of voters, noting that what that means is that there should not be a time when the INEC portal for voter registration should be closed.
She expressed displeasure over INEC attitude whereby the commission only open registration portal during the periods of elections, insisting that such idea posses a lot of challenges and frustration on the masses who usually struggle to register or collect their permanent voter card (PVC).
"We have seen this over the years and we feel it is an anomaly to close the registration portal and only open it towards general elections. We notice the challenges people experience during this period and in other climes these things are seemless in the sense that once one turns 18 years, he or she goes to the portal and register just as the driver's license.
"Since it is not working in Nigeria, we are asking for policy change for it to be implemented. If other countries got it right, we in Nigeria must also get it right. That is the essence of the campaign.
"Part of the strategies we have adopted in #register18 campaign is synergising with INEC through interactions with its leadership, liaising with other development partners to support with technical aids and resources, and political parties to see that continuous voter registration is not hindered," she stated.
The team lead said that the issue of lacking manpower and need to clean up data should not prevent the continuous registration of possible voters, adding "people turn upto 18 years daily and they need not wait for whatever time such opportunity should be provided, otherwise, once one turns 18 years such person should go to the portal and register."
Some of the participants expressed satisfaction with the campaign and commended Dem Net for ensuring that democracy principles are improved thereby given the youths the needed opportunity to participate actively during elections.
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