The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed concern over what it termed a disappointing turnout of just 1,801 new registrations in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Enugu State.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), INEC launched the online CVR on August 18, while the nationwide physical registration commenced on August 28.
Speaking with NAN on Tuesday, Chief Rex Achumie, Head of Voter Education and Publicity at INEC Enugu, revealed that only 1,801 people had registered during the first 15 days of the in-person exercise in the state.
He explained that the figure covered the period from August 25 to September 12 across INEC’s CVR centres in Enugu.
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 ongoing 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 not registered before now,” he said.
Achumie noted that the CVR and its fresh registration remained important in the electoral process, adding, “It should be given the seriousness and attention it deserves because obtaining the card is imperative to voting during elections.”
“CVR registration is not just a political party affair, but every Nigerian within the voting age should be concerned, even if one does not belong to any political party.”
NAN reports that the CVR, which runs from Monday to Friday, between 9 am and 4 p.m., is being held in the INEC’s State Headquarters in Enugu and INEC’s offices in the 17 council area secretariats across the state.