Online Voter Registration: 4.5 Million Youths Registered In May 2022 – INEC

• INEC says that 4.5 million youths completed the online voter registration in May 2022.

• INEC says it received 10.2 million fresh online voters, but only 6.5 million completed their registration.

• SERAP urges INEC to extend the deadline for online registration.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reported that a total of 4.5 million youths in Nigeria completed their online voter registration in May.

According to INEC data, the age range of the newly registered youths is between 18 and 35. They constitute about 69.5% of the total registrations that have been completed since the start of the Continuous Voters’ Registration (CVR) exercise.

The electoral body also revealed that despite receiving a total of 10.2 million new applicants, only about 6.5 million applicants were fully registered, of which the youths were about 4.5 million.

Youth interest in registering for voter cards this year has been attributed to campaigns on various social media platforms and groups such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter by influencers.

Out of the 6.5 million that completed their registration, 1.3 million were middle-aged citizens between 35 and 49, while 556,572 were between the ages of 50 and 69.

According to INEC statistical data, elderly citizens also took part in the online exercise, with about 76,186 people above 70 completing their registration. 

The online voter registration exercise ended on May 30, 2022, while the continuous Voter Registration is set to end on June 30, 2022, according to INEC.

Read also: Nigeria’s Bitcoin P2P Trading Climbs 25% as Naira Falls

However, the Electoral body has yet to close the Portal for registration after receiving a call to extend the deadline by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP. 

“Extending the voter registration deadline would provide more time for eligible voters, including young people, the elderly, people living with disability, as well as those resident in states facing security challenges and living in IDP camps to participate in the 2023 elections.” SERAP stated.

Follow Naija.fm on our social media handles Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to keep up with trending news and entertainment gist.