The Anambra State youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has expressed worry over the failures characterising the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise across the state.

In a statement on Thursday, signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Comrade Uzo Ekemezie, they decried an alleged “deliberate scheme” to disenfranchise the people of the state in what they thought should be a seamless civic process.

They condemned an alleged avoidable chaos and failures reported across the state, particularly in Ogbaru, Obosi, Isiagu, Anambra East, Anambra West, Ihiala, and several other communities and wards, “where thousands of our people are being systematically denied their constitutional right to register and participate in the electoral process.”

Explaining that the complaints from various communities paint a disturbing picture, it pointed out that the gross undersupply of registration machines and personnel are crippling the process.

The youths also pointed out the extremely limited registration locations, forcing citizens to travel long distances and endure endless queues.

They also decried inadequate network infrastructure, with INEC field staff relying on individuals to provide personal data connectivity to power their systems.

They said, “There are reports of extortion, where citizens are being forced to pay bribes to registration officers in order to exercise their civic right.

“Transaction-driven bottlenecks, especially in populous wards like Obosi, Nigeria’s largest ward, where most eligible voters have been unable to register.

“Institutionalised humiliation, as ordinary citizens are subjected to indignity and frustration simply for seeking to register.”

The situation, they said, is unacceptable, stressing that INEC’s failure to deploy resources adequately and ethically manage the process raises serious questions about its commitment to credible elections in Anambra State.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo youths, therefore, demanded the immediate and unconditional extension of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise across Anambra State.

They also demanded the deployment of sufficient registration machines, competent personnel, and reliable network infrastructure to all communities, especially rural areas like Ogbaru, Anambra East and West, Ihiala, Ayamelum, and others that have been heavily underserved.