Report: Nigerians below 35 years drop out of Continuous Voter Registration process

A recent report by SBM Intelligence has shed light on the challenges faced by young Nigerians below the age of 35 in the voter registration process. The report calls on Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to increase transparency by publishing the production and collection numbers of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) on a monthly basis. Tunde Ajileye, a partner at SBM Intelligence, joined CNBC Africa to discuss the findings of the report. According to Ajileye, there has been a significant surge in the number of young people trying to register to vote in the last two years. However, despite this enthusiasm, a large proportion of them have been unable to complete the process of obtaining their PVCs. The report revealed that only 6% of the people surveyed had completed the physical capture process, and only 41% had successfully picked up their PVCs. This percentage was even lower among younger respondents, indicating a concerning trend of disenfranchisement among the youth. Ajileye emphasized the importance of matching the number of registered voters with the number of PVCs produced and collected, highlighting the need for INEC to address the gaps in the registration process. One of the key challenges identified in the report is the lack of clarity and communication from INEC regarding the reasons for the low PVC collection rates. Ajileye speculated that the production of PVCs in batches, logistical issues, funding constraints, and a lack of preparation could be contributing to the delays in PVC distribution. He also noted that many registrants did not receive the expected notifications about the readiness of their PVCs, leading to confusion and frustration. Despite assurances from INEC, Ajileye expressed concerns about the risk of disenfranchisement if the issues in the registration process are not resolved before the upcoming elections. The report calls for a concerted effort from civil society, the government, and INEC to prioritize the successful distribution of PVCs to ensure that all eligible voters can participate in the electoral process. Failure to address these challenges could result in thousands of Nigerians, particularly young people, being unable to exercise their voting rights in the upcoming elections.