• To deploy 652 trained staff

By JOHN NWOKOCHA, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will begin devolution of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) to 326 wards in Anambra, on Monday, August 30, 2021, towards creating opportunity for fresh voters.

It also said the exercise will create opportunity for voters wishing to transfer their registration to Anambra state or from one part of the state to another. The commission made the disclosure on Thursday in Abuja.

The exercise is in addition to the existing 21 Local Government Area offices and State Head office where physical registration is currently taking place. With the development the state now has a total number of 348 registration centres.

National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Barr Festus Okoye, stated that the Commission would deploy 652 trained staff based on two personnel for each ward ratio, to avoid unpleasant experiences during the CVR exercise.

He assured there will be enough voter registration machines and adequate technical support for the duration of the exercise which will hold between 9am and 3pm daily, including the weekend.

However, the voter registration exercise will not extend beyond 60 day before the election, in compliance with Section 9(5) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended)

Already, preparations for the November 6 governorship election by the Commission, are have continued from one phase to another in line with detailed timetable and schedule of activities for the election.

According to Okoye, eight out of the 14 activities have already been fully and successfully implemented. These include: conduct of party primaries, nomination of candidates and commencement of campaign by political parties, among others.

Okoye said “In order to ensure that fresh voters and those who wish to transfer their registration to Anambra State or from one part of the State to another are given the opportunity to do so and to complete the process ahead of the election, the Commission has approved the devolution of the CVR to the 326 Wards in the State.

“The exercise will begin on Monday 30th August 2021 and end on Sunday 5th September 2021.

In compliance with the provision of Section 9(5) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), voter registration shall stop not later than 60 days before an election.

“This means that the exercise in Anambra State will be suspended by 6th September 2021. This will enable the Commission to clean up the data, compile the register, make copies available to political parties, print the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) for collection by registered voters and prepare two copies of the register for each of the 5,720 polling units ahead of the election.

Urging Nigerians to cooperate with the Commission for the success of the exercise, it said those who wish to register in-person or physically can now do so at the Registration Area (Ward) level throughout the State from 30th August to 5th September 2021.

Those who have done the online pre-registration must also complete the physical registration within those dates if they wish to vote in the forthcoming governorship election.

Okoye said the Commission will suspend the physical registration of voters in Anambra State from 6th September 2021 until after the governorship election.

He said from the online registration of voters, the Commission has identified 580 pre-registrants who booked for appointment to complete their registration after 5th September 2021.

“We have contacted each one of them by e-mail and rescheduled them within the dates earmarked for the devolved exercise.

“We have also given them the option to choose another date within that period if the date we proposed is not convenient for them. However, they are at liberty to reschedule for a later date if they do not wish to vote in the November 6th Governorship election”.

Ahead of the exercise, INECO’s State office in Anambra has commenced stakeholder engagements and massive publicity.