Nigeria may have about 83 million voters in the 2019 general elections - This was disclosed by the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu - The INEC boss said over 14.5 million voters were registered during the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has said Nigeria may have about 83 million voters after the register has been cleaned up. Professor Yakubu said this while playing host to a delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), led by General Francis Behanzin, which was on a courtesy visit to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. The INEC boss informed the delegation that over 14.5 million voters were registered during the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise between April, 2017, and August, 2018.
He said the new figure would be added to the almost 70 million citizens already in the national voter register after due process. According to him, conducting general elections in Nigeria could be likened to conducting an election for the whole of ECOWAS. He also informed the delegation that Nigeria currently had 91 registered political parties, out of which 89 would field candidates for various positions in next year’s general elections. Earlier, General Behanzin expressed gratitude to the INEC chairman for his contribution to the improvement of the electoral process and sustenance of democracy across West Africa. He said the purpose of the visit was to, among other things, find out about INEC’s preparation for the 2019 general elections and the challenges it was facing in view of Nigeria’s large voter population of over 80 million. He described Nigeria as “a very big country,” pledging financial support for the conduct of the elections. He also informed the INEC chairman that ECOWAS would send 200 observers for next year’s general elections. President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians and the international community that the 2019 general elections will be free and fair. This was contained in a statement by Femi Adesina on Tuesday, October 16.
Title : 83 million Nigerians to vote in 2019 - INEC boss
Description : Nigeria may have about 83 million voters in the 2019 general elections - This was disclosed by the chairman of the Independent National Ele...