Reps Empower INEC To Extend Registration Period

The House of Representatives on Tuesday amended section 9 (5) of the Electoral Act of 2010 to give INEC four weeks to conclude the ongoing voter registration.

The amendment now allows for 60 days within which INEC shall conclude the voter registration before the general elections.

The section provides that registration of voters, updating and revision of the voters’ register shall stop not later than 60 days before any election covered by the Act.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that following the anomalies that characterised the exercise since it began on Jan. 15, many people had called for the extension of time to allow for the registration of eligible Nigerians.

Tuesday’s amendment followed a motion by Ita Enang (PDP-Akwa Ibom), which was unanimously adopted by members when put to vote by Speaker Dimeji Bankole.

Leading the debate, Enang said the amendment was necessary following the challenges that had confronted the exercise.

According to him, the amendment, which alters the word “60 days”, will enable INEC, which had no power to extend the date, to do so now.

Bankole said the Act, as amended, would be forwarded to the Senate for concurrence.

He added that relevant committees would continue work on the 2011 budget, as the House suspended its plenary session for two weeks.