Upsurge In PVC Collection; INEC To Deploy More Machines In South East.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will deploy more machines in the five south east state in Nigeria to ease conjunction in some registration and collection centers across the region.

This is coming after a sudden turnaround of massive enrollment and collection of PVCs in the entire south east and also in other states like Lagos, Abuja,Kano where there has been a massive enrollment especially igbos in those states.

Reacting to the situation, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday released a statement by the commission’s chairman of information and voter education Barrister Festus Okoye after a meeting with the Residents Electoral Commissions RECs of the states

The Statement Reads;

ONGOING CONTINUOUS VOTER REGISTRATION (CVR) EXERCISE

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received reports from our States indicating an unprecedented surge in the number of citizens that wish to register as voters and the challenges they face across the country. In some States, the sudden turnout of prospective registrants is overwhelming.

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Consequently, the Commission convened an urgent meeting with all the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) yesterday Thursday 9th June 2022 to review the situation so that eligible Nigerians who wish to register are able to do so. The necessity to urgently deploy more voter enrolment machines to ease the congestion at the registration centres was identified as a priority.

In response, the Commission has immediately released additional 209 machines deployed mainly to the five South Eastern States, Lagos and Kano where the pressure is most acute.

The Commission will monitor the situation over the next few days. Thereafter, it will meet to review the progress of the exercise.

Every step will be taken and all options will be explored to ensure that eligible Nigerians are given the opportunity to register as voters.

The Commission appeals for patience and understanding of all citizens. Every Nigerian who is 18 years of age and above has the constitutional right to register and vote in any part of the country he/she resides without let or hinderance.

The sudden surge is an affirmation of the increasing confidence Nigerians have in our electoral process. The Commission will continue to ensure that this confidence is sustained.