INEC must extend CVR in Anambra, says Odinkalu

INEC must extend CVR in Anambra, says Odinkalu

By Jeffrey Agbo

Former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chidi Odinkalu, has called for the extension of the continuous voter registration (CVR) in Anambra State, noting that the process has been ineffective, with just months to the governorship election.

“I am honestly disappointed with all the politicians and political parties in Anambra. We are all focusing on elections in November. But how can we be focused on elections and forget that it is a process in which every step counts?” he said in a statement.

“This week, INEC has been doing the so-called continuing voter registration (CVR) in Anambra. In every part of the state, it has been an absolute & intentional disaster: Registration units have been deliberately under-supplied with machines, the locations for registration are too few; in nearly every location, there has been inadequate bandwidth for the process, leading to interminable delays even for the few who can be captured.

“As the demand for registration manifestly outstripped capacity of INEC to fulfill it, the registration officers have transactionalised the process, in many cases requiring citizens who wish to register to tip or pay for the right to be registered.

“In Obosi, for instance, the biggest ward in Anambra & in Nigeria, a majority of intending registrants will not be able to do so; the indignities visited on citizens by this process have been atrocious; amazingly, there are no voices being raised about this from the state on an issue on which, I believe, we can all sink our differences.

“The least that we can do is to insist in one voice that INEC must extend the process & adequately resource the extension with both machines & personnel; I expect the politicians & leaders of Anambra irrespective of divide to at least agree on this; I also expect the ANSG to officially protest & bring this to the attention of INEC for urgent redress.”