No fewer than 1,258 new registrants have accessed and applied for voters’ cards in Enugu State in the ongoing online Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The figure was an update received from INEC after two weeks of online CVR that started on June 28.
Dr Emeka Ononamadu, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Enugu State, said on Tuesday in Enugu that the figure for the state was gradually picking up and showed great signs of improvement each following day.
Ononamadu, however, assured that all eligible registrants would be provided with convenient and easy means of registration in the ongoing CVR.
He allayed the fears expressed by some citizens that many prospective registrants might be disenfranchised by the new online registration arrangement.
The REC said that the commission was aware that not all Nigerians have internet-enabled computers and smart phones.
According to him, we also know that not every registrant is living in urban and suburban areas, where there might be relative stability of internet connectivity.
“INEC is allaying fears expressed by some citizens that many prospective registrants may be disenfranchised by the new digital arrangement.
“Some citizens may also have one form of disability or another to make it impossible for them to register online,’’ he said.
The REC, however, assured that INEC would provide every eligible Nigerian the opportunity to register irrespective of where they live or other circumstances of life.
“In addition to the online registration portal, there will be some 2,673 centers where citizens can register physically nationwide.
“The exercise will be carried out continuously over a period of at least one year thereby providing enough time for the commission to reach all the nooks and crannies of the country.
“No eligible Nigerian who desires to vote will be disenfranchised or left unregistered,’’ he added.
It would be recalled that the INEC commenced ongoing CVR on online level on June 28 nationwide on its registration portal — https://cvr.inecnigeria.org.
The schedule of appointments for online registrants and physical CVR at INEC state and local government offices nationwide is expected to commence on July 19.
