The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has decried what it described as an `abysmal 1,801’ fresh registrations in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Enugu State.

Additionally, a pro-democracy and good governance advocacy group, the Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD)-Nigeria, has also decried the low turnout of Southeasterners in the ongoing CVR exercise by INEC. 
 
INEC had stated that the CVR online registration would start on August 18, while the in-person registration would commence nationwide on August 28.
The Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, INEC Enugu office, Rex Achumie, told newsmen yesterday that only 1,801 registered in the past 15 days of the in-person CVR exercise in the area.
 
According to Achumie, the 15-day CVR registration period covered from August 25 to September 12 in INEC’s CVR centres in the state. The HOD, who noted that the 1,801 comprised 896 males and 905 females, said that the fresh registration remained abysmally low, as the average state record is about 25,000 fresh registrations in the same period.
 
“The CVR has been going on 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 centres 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 sensitisation of people who turned 18 years and people who were not registered before now,” he said.

In the same vein, FENRAD-Nigeria disclosed that recent statistics released by the electoral umpire indicated that Abia State and the entire zone were lagging.
 
The group, therefore, urged all prospective registrants to increase their interest in electoral participation by turning out in large numbers to register at their designated platforms and local councils, reminding them that it would decide their 2027 electoral status.
 
In a statement by the Executive Director of FENRAD, Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, made available to The Guardian on Monday, the body also urged INEC to increase its sensitisation and awareness campaigns to all nooks and crannies in the geopolitical zone to enable registrable adults to participate in the exercise.