Towards the 2019 General Elections, the International Press Centre (IPC) Lagos, under the Strengthening Citizens Engagement in Electoral Process (SCEEP) project in support of ACTIONAID Nigeria and the UKAID, through the Department for International Development (DFID), held a one-day Citizens Engagement/Forum on Advancing the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) Exercise in Lagos on Tuesday 13th February 2018 at All Seasons Plaza, Agindigbin, Ikeja, Lagos.
In his goodwill message, the Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lagos State, Mr. Waheed Ishola observed that the time for the forum is apt and it would be stressing the obvious to state that there is a better alternative time for the programme. The need to massively sensitize the citizens on the Continuous Voter Registration is open to all and cannot be over emphasized. The Director urged the representatives of the various local governments to aggressively encourage their wards, children, men and women to avail themselves the opportunity of the continuous voter registration exercise and transfer.
He noted that request had been made by the Agency to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) INEC Lagos State to see how the commission can extend the registration exercise to Saturdays, to accommodate the working class who cannot make it during the work days as a result of their duty schedule.
In his opening remarks, the Programme Officer, International Press Center (IPC), Mr. Sanmie revealed that the forum was only an intervention on the on-going process. The Center is open to working with INEC in their small bit to encourage more people to be registered and exercise their right to vote.
Other speakers at the forum were: The Former Lagos Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), INEC, Mr. Akin Orebiyi; A Consultant, Mr. Ayo Aluko-Olokun; Representative of Resident Electoral Commissioner, INEC Lagos, Mrs. Seye Soriyen and Executive Chairman, Committee for Protection of People Mandate, Mr. Nelson Ekijumi.
In attendance were Leaders of Six Local Government Areas: – Surulere, Ifako-Ijaye; Ikorodu; Amwuo Odofin; Somolu and Lagos Mainland; Youth leaders, NGO’s, Persons Living with Disability (PWD); Women Leaders, Community Leaders, Influencers, Christian and Muslim Leaders.