INEC suspends voter registration in Imo LG after gunmen attacked officials
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Thursday that it has suspended the Continuous Voter Registration Exercise (CVR) exercise in Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State.
A statement by INEC National Commissioner, Festus Okoye, said the decision was taken after an INEC staff was shot dead by gunmen.
According to Mr Okoye, the staff, Mr. Nwokorie Anthony, was shot dead at Nkwo Ihitte (PU 004) in Amakohia Ward (RA 02) of Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area.
Two other staff involved in the registration exercise at the polling unit are also missing.
INEC said it was making efforts to locate their whereabouts.
“Prior to this incident, the Commission had suspended the CVR in Orsu and Njaba Local Government areas of the State on account of insecurity while the exercise is taking place only at the INEC LGA office in Oru East, Oru West, Orlu and Ohaji –Egbema Local Government Areas of the State,” Mr Okoye said.
“The Commission extends its condolences to the family of Nwokorie Anthony and prays that God will grant them the fortitude to bear the loss. The incident has been reported to security agencies to unravel the circumstances that led to this unfortunate incident and bring the culprits to justice.
“We enjoin the President General of the various Town Unions in Imo State as well as all the critical stakeholders to protect staff of the Commission engaged in national assignment. The safety and security of staff is of paramount importance to the Commission, particularly with the devolution of the voter registration exercise beyond our State and Local Government Area offices nation in our determination to serve Nigerians better.”
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended the Continuous Voter Registration Exercise (CVR) exercise in Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State,” the statement reads.
“This is sequel to a report by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Professor Emeka Ezeonu, to the effect that today, 14th of April 2022, Mr. Nwokorie Anthony, a staff of the Imo State office of the Commission involved in the ongoing CVR exercise, was shot dead by unknown gunmen at Nkwo Ihitte (PU 004) in Amakohia Ward (RA 02) of Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area.
“The REC further reported that the state office is making efforts to locate the whereabouts of the two remaining staff involved in the registration exercise.
“Prior to this incident, the Commission had suspended the CVR in Orsu and Njaba Local Government Areas of the state on account of insecurity, while the exercise is taking place only at the INEC LGA office in Oru East, Oru West, Orlu and Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Areas of the state.”
.“The safety and security of staff is of paramount importance to the Commission, particularly with the devolution of the voter registration exercise beyond our State and Local Government Area offices nation in our determination to serve Nigerians better,” Okoye added.
The development comes months after a series of attacks on INEC offices across the country, especially in the south-east.
As of May 2021, the commission had recorded 41 attacks on its offices since the conclusion of the 2019 elections.
