Citizens who lost voter’s card, three  months before election day can’t vote – Electoral act

The new Electoral act signed by President Mohammadu Buhari will disenfranchise citizens who lost their voters card three  months before the election day.

This is contained in Part III in clause 18 of the act which was made available to Western Post.

According to the act, any voter who has his/her voter’s card “lost, destroyed, defaced, torn or otherwise damaged,” must apply for a new one.

This new card must be issued the voter at least 90 before an election to be able to vote in that election.

18. (1) Whenever a Voter’s card is lost, destroyed, defaced, torn or otherwise damaged, the owner of such card shall, not less than 90 days before polling day, apply in person to the electoral officer or any other officer duly authorised for that purpose by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, stating the circumstances of the loss, destruction, defacement or damage.

(2) Where the electoral officer or any other officer is satisfied as to the circumstances of loss, destruction, defacement or damage of the voter’s card, he or she shall issue to the voter a replacement permanent voter’s card.

(3) No person shall issue a replacement permanent voter’s card to any voter less than 90 days before polling day.

(4) Where the electoral officer or any other officer is satisfied as to the circumstances of the loss, destruction, defacement or damage of the voter’s card, he or she shall issue Power to issue to the voter another copy of the voter’s original voter’s card with the word “replacement” permanent voters’ cards.

(5) Any person who contravenes subsection (3) of this section commits an offence and is liable on conviction, to a fine not more than ₦200,000 or imprisonment for a term not  more than two years or both.