By Peter Okolie
Stakeholders at a meeting on the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Imo have raised concerns over what they deemed inadequate sensitisation and limited registration facilities for the exercise in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) convened the meeting in Owerri for the stakeholders to discuss the issues around the CVR in the state.
NAN further reports that traditional rulers, political parties, and civil society groups, among other stakeholders in attendance, agreed that rural dwellers were not aware of the exercise.
The State Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Chief Levi Ekeh, said that “we have not done enough in terms of sensitisation in the hinterlands.”
Ekeh emphasised the need for an expanded stakeholders’ meeting to strategise on ways to create more awareness about the exercise.
The Chairman of Owerri North Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Jude Nwogu, commended the state’s CVR rise to the 16th position nationwide from 32nd position.
Nwogu, who advocated the decentralisation of the process, called for additional machines to enable more citizens to register.
The state Chairman of Labour Party, Mr Callistus Iheajiagwa, advocated for an improved system that allowed for the immediate issuance of voter cards.
Iheajiagwa, who expressed concern over the low turnout at an earlier stakeholders’ meeting organised for a local government area, also cautioned against “last-minute rush” by eligible residents.
NAN reports that various speakers from civil society and religious groups as well as town unions emphasised the essence of adequate sensitisation of the communities.
They also called on INEC to ensure transparency and fairness in the exercise in order to restore public confidence in the electoral process.
Earlier, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Sylvia Agu, disclosed that the commission had registered 17,129 citizens physically and approximately 70,000 online.
Agu said that for the first quarter, CVR must be held at INEC offices in the various local government areas, which limited decentralisation for now.
She said that her office had applied for additional machines, particularly for areas with security challenges, such as Okigwe and Orsu, to boost capacity.
The REC said the essence of the meeting “is to talk to stakeholders to become our apostles for mobilisation”.
She urged eligible residents and those with issues to register now to avoid being disenfranchised.
Making reference to past electoral shortcomings, she assured the stakeholders that “INEC is determined to let your votes count.
“The commission is working assiduously to ensure that the glitches from the last election do not occur again,” Agu said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Sam Oditah
