INEC lauds people’s turnout for voter registration in Ebonyi

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commended the turnout of people for the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Ebonyi.

Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu, the National Commissioner of INEC, gave the commendation in Abakaliki on Friday.

He urged prospective voters, who had yet to register, to partake in the CRV, which started on Thursday in all the 13 the Local Government Areas of the state.

Ibeanu stressed that the exercise was not for those who had registered before and warned against double registration which, he said, was an offence.

“The exercise is for all those who have attained the age of 18 years after the last voter registration as well as all those who failed to register in the last voter registration due to one reason or the other.

“INEC is also using the exercise to distribute Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), while attending to those who registered in one place but want to transfer to another location,” he said.

Ibeanu said that the exercise would hold every day between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays, except for public holidays.

Mr Charles Mbanaji, Administrative Secretary of INEC in Ebonyi, called on those who were qualified to vote to come out and register.

“The registration takes place at INEC offices in the 13 local government areas of the state,’’ he said.

A student, Chukwudi Anajoru, who said that he turned 18 two years ago, recalled that he was unable to register during the last voter registration because of some health challenges.

“As a result of my health challenges, I could not register then but now, I am ready for the exercise,’’ he said.

It was reported that security agents were on hand at the registration centres ensure a hitch-free exercise.