The Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Imo State, Prof Francis Ezeonu, has warned that the constant torching of the commission’s facilities could cripple the 2023 election in the state.
Addressing a press conference in the state on Thursday, Ezeonu disclosed that hoodlums had attacked no fewer than eight INEC offices in the state between 2019 and 2021.
The affected offices include INEC’s offices in Ehime Mbano, Isiala Mbano, Ahiazu Mbaise, Ehinihitte Mbaise, Ngor Okpala, Njaba, Orlu and Isu local government areas of the state.
He added that the attacks occurred during the 2019 elections, the EndSARS protests and 2021 unrest in the state.
Ezeonu also advised the residents of the state to take the opportunity provided by INEC and register in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise in preparation for the 2023 general elections.
He said, “This exercise was purposely designed to precede the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise to make new polling units available to voters. Today, I am happy to inform you about the rollout of the online registration component of the CVR exercise on Monday, June 28, 2021.
“The commission has continued to improve on its operational strategy and deployment. In addition to the physical registration exercise we are used to, the commission has introduced an online registration portal.
“The proposed method will not eliminate the existing method rather it will provide an alternate method for those who have access to internet facilities, thereby reducing the inconveniences for voters and also reducing the number of voters that would have to queue up at our registration centres.
“It was the desire of the commission to roll out both the physical and online registration exercise at the same time but we are encumbered by the security challenges in the country.”
Copyright PUNCH.
