The House of Representatives has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to decentralise its continuous voter registration.

The call followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by a member, Olusegun Odebunmi, at plenary on Tuesday.

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Moving the motion titled ‘Need to urge INEC to decentralise continuous voter registration,’ Odebunmi noted that in recent times, INEC is “technically mandating Nigerians to appear in its office for them to get registered.”

Odebunmi said, “The House is disturbed that in the wake of various social economic challenges and the obvious increase in the rate of COVID-19 spread in the country, encouraging citizens to be gathering in only one centre puts Nigerians in serious risk of contracting the virus.

“The House is further disturbed that the action has resulted in discouraging prospective voters whose wherewithal to access INEC office is of limited size.”

Adopting the motion, the House resolved that, “In the spirit of not disenfranchising Nigerians from exercising their voting rights, it is important for INEC to take registration closer to the people.”

The House also mandated its Committee on Electoral Matters to ensure compliance by INEC, while the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, asked the Clerk to the House, to transmit the resolution to the commission for implementation.