Imo attacks: INEC suspends CVR exercise indefinitely in 3 councils, restricts further operations to state, LGAs offices

Following an attack by gunmen during the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area, on Thursday, which left one staff dead, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Friday, extended its earlier suspension of operations announced in the wake of the incident.

INEC, in a statement signed by its Information and Voter Education Committee chairman, Mr. Festus Okoye, Friday, said its CVR registration exercise will now be restricted to the state and local government area offices in Imo.

This is also the commission disclosed that it has also suspended the CVR exercise in all the 54 additional centres originally created to facilitate registration of voters across the state.

The commission said its latest decision is informed by further threat to staff, following report by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof Francis C. Ezeonu, that INEC’s personnel involved in the exercise in Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area were being threatened.

INEC also confirmed that it has established contact with its staff abducted in the aftermath of Thursday’s attack by the gunmen in Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area, assuring that, ‘They are safe and will soon be reunited with their families.’

“Further to the unfortunate incident in Imo State in which our staff was killed by gunmen in Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area yesterday (Thursday), the Commission has decided to suspend the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in all the 54 additional centres created to facilitate the registration of voters across the state.

“The exercise will now be confined to our State and Local Government Area offices except for Orsu, Njaba and Ihitte Uboma where it is suspended indefinitely.

“This decision follows a further report from the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof Francis C. Ezeonu, of threats to our staff involved in the exercise in Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area. Earlier, the commission has restricted the exercise to our offices in Oru East, Oru West, Orlu and Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Areas.

“Meanwhile, the Commission has now established contact with two of our staff missing after yesterday’s attack in Ihitte Uboma. They are safe and will soon be reunited with their families.

“The safety of staff remains a primary concern to the Commission. We will continue to ensure that no staff is put in harm’s way while working with the security agencies and community leaders to ptotect protect them and facilitate their work,” Okoye said.

It would be recalled that INEC, on Thursday, said it has suspended the 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,” 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.