Insecurity: INEC Suspends Voters Registration Exercise In Some Areas Of Imo, Anambra, Kaduna
LAGOS APRIL 23RD (NEWSRANGERS)-The Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended voters registration exercise in areas of Imo, Anambra and Kaduna states.
INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu who made the pronouncement yesterday at the Second Regular Quarterly Consultative Meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) held at Abuja said following report of insecurity in some areas of the aforementioned states, the Commission has decided to suspend further voters registration exercise.
Yakubu noted that following the unfortunate incident in Imo State last week, the Commission suspended the CVR exercise in all the 54 additional centres in the State, adding that the exercise is now restricted to the State and Local Government offices except Ihitte Uboma, Njaba and Osu where the exercise has been suspended for the time being.
“Similarly, based on the urgency of the situation in Anambra State, the CVR has been suspended in all the 42 additional centres and confined to our State and Local Government offices except Nnewi South and Ogbaru LGAs where the exercise has also been temporarily suspended.
“Furthermore, in Kaduna State, the exercise has been suspended in Jema’a and Kaura as well as large areas of Birnin Gwari and Giwa on account of insecurity in the four LGAs.
“In addition, two of our staff were abducted by bandits but later released in Isa LGA of Sokoto State while on voter registration duty. The Commission will keep monitoring and reviewing the situation nationwide, always bearing in mind the imperative of protecting the safety and security of our staff and registrants,” the INEC Boss stated.
Yakubu disclosed that the Commission is taking the action because they are converned about the safety of their personnel and Nigerians who come out to register at the various registration centres.
“We are also concerned about the security of our equipment and materials, including the printed Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) made available for collection by registered voters. Recent incidents involving our staff and facilities are worrisome,” he disclosed.
The INEC Boss maintained that despite the security challenges, the Commission remain resolute in its determination to conduct the 2023 General Election as scheduled, stressing that doing so, every eligible Nigerian must be given the opportunity to vote, including citizens in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp.
He affirmed that the Commission is confident that the Nation’s security agencies have the capacity to deal with the security challenges ahead 2023 General Election, noting that it is fortunately they have started the preparations for the election early.
Hear him, “There is therefore ample time to deal with the current situation to enable the Commission and all stakeholders to deploy nationwide for the election. We will continue to work with the security agencies for a peaceful electioneering and conduct of elections. To this end, the Commission will hold high-level meetings with the security agencies and consultations with stakeholders immediately after the forthcoming national holidays.
He disclosed that since the CVR exercise resumed on 11th April 2002 for the fourth and final quarter, there is a noticeable increase in the number of new registrants.
According to him, “In the last one week of the exercise, 405,587 eligible Nigerians completed the registration at the various centres which is about 31% increase on the average figure of 125,000 weekly registrations since the exercise commenced in June last year. We expect a surge in new registrations as we approach the deadline of 30th June 2022 and we are prepared for it.”
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Posted by News Rangers
on Apr 23 2022. Filed under National.
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