The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced a 50-day Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise across the 329 wards of Akwa Ibom State.
The ward-level registration, which began on Monday, is aimed at bringing voter registration closer to the grassroots and increasing citizen participation in the electoral process.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday in Uyo by the INEC Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, Bukola Ojeme, who urged eligible residents to take advantage of the exercise.
Ojeme explained that eligible citizens can register at designated INEC Ward Collation Centres across the state, with two wards in each local government area to be covered daily.
“From Monday, February 2, registration will take place at the ward level for 50 days. We will rotate through the wards, attending to two wards per local government area each day,” he said.
He clarified that during the 50-day period, only the registration centre at INEC’s state headquarters will remain fully operational, while registration activities at the 31 local government area offices will be temporarily suspended.
“The local government registration centres will move to the wards during this period. After 50 days, registration will return to the local government offices to complete this phase of the exercise,” Ojeme added.
According to him, the INEC Voter Enrolment Devices (IVEDs) assigned to each local government will be rotated among the wards to ensure comprehensive coverage.
“No ward will be left out. The IVEDs will be rotated to cover all wards,” he assured.
Ojeme further emphasised that only officially approved Ward Collation Centres would be used for the exercise, warning that the commission would not tolerate the use of unauthorised locations.
“Only ward collation centres are approved for registration. The commission will not tolerate the deployment of IVEDs to unauthorised centres,” he warned.
To promote transparency and accountability, Ojeme disclosed that INEC has approved a timetable for the rotation of the enrolment devices and has directed Electoral Officers to publicise it widely.
“This will allow citizens and stakeholders to monitor the exercise and report any violations,” he said.
He urged eligible citizens, particularly those in rural communities, to seize the opportunity to register during the 50-day exercise.
