INEC failing to meet Anambra voter registration demands – Activist 

Social justice activist Chima Christian said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is failing to meet the registration demands in Anambra.

In a statement, the pundit said since the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) deadline extension and the near conclusion of primaries, there has been a surge in the interest to complete registration, do PVC transfer or replacement.

Christian noted that while the citizens are willing to perform their patriotic duty as evidenced by the crowds in various registration centres, INEC seems overwhelmed.

He said there are only 22 registration centres, 44 data capturing devices and about 176 INEC staff deployed in Anambra, though the state has 326 political wards, 5,720 polling units and a population estimate of 6.3 million.

Christian said with an average time of 6 minutes per registration, and the man-hours available till the conclusion, there is a limit as to the number of eligible voters INEC can successfully process their registration requests.

“I am not in a position to speculate on the possibility of technical disenfranchisement of Anambra voters till I review registration resource data of other states/regions.

“What I know, however, is that current human and material resources deployed to cover the CVR exercise in Anambra state are largely inadequate.

“As a result of this inadequacy, we have received several accusations of registration racketeering. Compromised INEC staff now allegedly collect bribes from citizens to fast track their registrations.

“The alternative might be to spend the whole day at the centre without a guarantee of successful registration. This is frustrating.”

The commentator urged INEC to immediately distribute at least 326 data capturing devices in Anambra and work with security agencies for ward level registration in the 13 local government areas not severely impacted by the “unknown gunmen.”

He further advised Governor Charles Soludo to deploy security resources around the 22 registration centres and others that may be approved.

“The government must take all necessary precautions to ensure that INEC staff on CVR duty and prospective Anambra voters who are now clustered in various registration centres are offered all necessary protection”, the statement added.