The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has lamented over what it described as an ‘abysmal 1,801’ fresh registrations in the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration in Enugu State.
INEC started the CVR online registration on Aug. 18, while the in-person registration started nationwide on August 28.
Chief Rex Achumie, Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, INEC Enugu, told NAN on Tuesday that only 1,801 people had registered during the 15-day in-person CVR operation in the area.
According to Achumie, the 15-day CVR registration period ran from August 25 to September 12 at INEC’s CVR centers around the state.
The HOD, who noted that the 1,801 included 896 males and 905 girls, stated that the fresh registration rate remained abysmally low compared to the average state record of around 25,000 fresh registrations in the same period.
“The CVR has been ongoing smoothly. We do not have any record of connectivity challenges, lack of manpower, or lack of machines to do the job.
“The challenge we have is the low turnout of residents for the exercise, and it is appalling to see people trickling to the CVR centers at wide intervals each day.
“The rate of turnout is low and discouraging, notwithstanding INEC’s engagements with electoral stakeholders before the exercise commenced.
“The electoral and political stakeholders need to help in the sensitization of people who turned 18 years old and people not registered before now,” he said.
Achumie stated that the CVR and its new registration remained crucial in the electoral process, adding, “It should be given the seriousness and attention it deserves because obtaining the card is imperative to voting during elections.”
“CVR registration is not just a political party affair, but every Nigerian within the voting age should be concerned, even if one does not belong to any political party.”
The CVR, which runs from Monday to Friday, between 9 am and 4 pm, is being held in the INEC’s State Headquarters in Enugu and INEC’s offices in the 17 council area secretariats across the state.
