BY NATIONAL PANEL REPORTERS
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called for the collaboration of key stakeholders in Ebonyi to step up efforts in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in the state.
Dr Joseph Chukwu, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ebonyi made the call at a press conference held at the Commission's state headquarters on Thursday in Abakaliki.
He said that the commission had embarked on grassroots sensitisation to mobilise eligible voters to register in the ongoing CVR exercise.
He noted that collaboration with major stakeholders would enhance the current drive to get more indegines who were yet to register especially at the local communities to do so.
He stated that the exercise was taken place in the 15 designated centres in Ebonyi comprising one in each of the 13 local government areas and two centres domiciled in the state headquarters.
According to the REC, the registration areas are made up of 2,946 polling units (PUs) established in the 171 registration areas of the state.
"The exercise started in June 28, 2021 and is still ongoing. We have captured no fewer than 79808 voters in the online version of the exercise while 62,508 of the number have completed the registration by doing physical capturing.
"We appeal to key stakeholders including the media to assist in mobilising the prospective voters especially those who have yet to register to visit any registration area nearest to them.
"Also, the ongoing registration will enable those whose permanent voter cards (PVCs) have defaced to update while those who lost theirs can obtain new one.
"The exercise also provides opportunity for the collection of unclaimed PVCs," Chukwu said.
The REC however debunked rumours that PVCs issued in 2011 were no longer valid and usable and urged Ebonyi electorate to discountenance the rumour.
He further restated the resolve of the commission to conduct credible, free, fair and transparent election in the 2023 general election in Ebonyi.
