The Independent National Electoral Commission has faulted claims by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State that it had resumed the Continuous Voter Registration in places where the exercise was earlier suspended in Imo State.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, in a statement on Tuesday, said the commission’s position had not changed.
The commission had suspended the CVR exercise in all the 54 additional centres created to facilitate the registration of voters across the state following an attack on its staff members in Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area, and reports of insecurity in other parts of the state.
Uzodimma had on Sunday claimed, during a church service at the Government House Chapel, Owerri, that INEC had agreed to lift the suspension, adding that the CVR would commence on Monday, April 25, 2022.
The governor was quoted as saying that his intervention became necessary to allow Imo citizens to register and obtain their Permanent Voter Cards before the next general election.
But Okoye insisted that the exercise was till confined to the commission’s state and local government area offices except in Orsu, Njaba and Ihitte Uboma Local Government Areas where it is suspended indefinitely.
He appealed to the public to discountenance the purported resumption of the CVR in the three LGAs of Orsu, Njaba and Ihitte Uboma.
He said, “While the commission is not unmindful of the imperative of giving every eligible Nigerian the opportunity to register and vote in future elections, the safety and security of citizens involved in the exercise is a paramount concern.
“Such statements are capable of misleading the public and further jeopardising the safety of registrants and officials as well as the security of the commission’s facilities.
“At the appropriate time, the commission will announce any new decision on the matter after consultation with the security agencies and critical stakeholders.”
