The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Tuesday, attributed the low turn out of eligible persons to register in the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) in Enugu state to insecurity and fear and appealed to stakeholders to mobilise more registrants for the exercise.
The state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Emeka Ononamadu, made the call in Enugu, during INEC’s Engagement with Critical Stakeholders on the Ongoing Fourth Quarter of CVR.
Ononamadu said that the registration figure of the state had remained low, adding that “after three quarters of CVR registration, we have about 31,000”.
He said that in the fourth quarter CVR registration, INEC would move its CVR registration to political wards and open up more means of polling units’ transfer, especially for the newly created 1,000 polling units in the state.
“The new polling units will make polling booths closer, polling activities seamless and easy, while INEC will publish the new polling units by next week and paste it in public places within the state.”
“We have done only 3,000 transfers in the state and our people should make more transfers to the new polling units to lessen distance and cumbersomeness.
“I am appealing to the media, traditional rulers, President-Generals, religious leaders and youth leaders to help us mobilise and enlighten our people on the need to go for their CVR registration,” he said.
The REC said that INEC had graciously added more time on days for the CVR registration in South East to accommodate for the Monday’s disruption; saying, “It is now from 9a.m. to 5p.m, but previously it was from 9a.m. to 3p.m.”
The REC, however, attributed the low turnout to CVR registration to fear, insecurity and some people with the old stereotype of votes not counting.
While speaking, the Chairman of Enugu State Traditional Rulers’ Council, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, said that the state needed to do better in the ongoing CVR in order to positively influence the electoral system.
“I am calling on the people in general to take the issue of participating in the ongoing CVR seriously. We need to increase the number of successful registrants in all wards in the state,” Agubuzu said.
In the same vein, Igwe N.F. Ilochi, Traditional Rulers of Ihuonyia Community in Ezeagu Local Government Area, urged INEC to increase more registration centres at the community level and engage in more stakeholders’ advocacy.
Ilochi, however, assured INEC that the traditional rulers and other community leaders would continue to sensitise their subjects on the implication and importance of getting their Permanent Voters Card through the CVR.
