Maduako Igbokwe l Tuesday, January 25, 2022
ONITSHA, Anambra, Nigeria – Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Anambra state says it has withheld stipends of 680 adhoc staff that ran away with the commission’s materials after the 2021 governorship election.
This was made known on Tuesday by the Anambra State Resident Electoral Commission REC Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji while briefing journalists on the resumption of continuous voters registration CVR in the state.
He said that the voters registration resumed on Tuesday in 22 centers across the state. According to him, each of the 21 local governments has a centre while one centre is situated at INEC head office, Awka. He appealed to those who ran away with the commission devices to return them, noting that the items are federal government property that must be accounted.
“We have placed embargo on locations where the devices got lost and have also suspended their stipends pending the time we got names of those responsible for it” he said. He said those items taken away are scanners, powerpack, cables and other accessories .
“In particular, we have made substantial progress with payment of allowances to the ad hoc staff that participated in the election. The Commission is, however, displeased that some ad hoc staff have failed to return some of the devices and other materials issued to them during the election.
“The Commission has, therefore, taken the unfortunate decision to withhold the allowances of the staff involved in the act, pending their return of the materials to the Commission. The Commission urges the general public, and particularly, those that serve as ad hoc staff, to see the Commission’s property as national asset, and therefore, treat them with utmost care and a sense of responsibility” he said.
According to the REC, INEC suspended the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Anambra State on 15 September 2021, ahead of the November 2021 Governorship election in the State. He said that following the successful conclusion of the election, and the substantial progress made with regards to election reverse logistics, the Commission has approved the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in the State from Tuesday, 25 January 2022.
“The resumption of the CVR exercise in the State would offer eligible but unregistered voters the opportunity to get registered, and enable already registered voters to transfer and/or update their registration. In addition, registered voters would collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) during the period” he said
Orji said that in line with the Commission’s policy, the modalities of the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise will take place at the State and Local Government Area offices of the Commission in Anambra State.
Hours of Registration
According to him, the exercise would take place between the hours of 9.00 am to 3.00 pm daily, excluding weekends and public holidays. He said the modes of Registration are online pre-registration, and in-person registration at designated centres.
He also stated that all registration must be completed in person at the designated registration centres as there is no registration by proxy. “Multiple registration is not allowed. Registration must be done in public space, and can be observed by accredited observers. Registration is a pre-requisite for voting in elections. Registration is a civic responsibility ” he said.
Orji also said that the commission is using this opportunity to inform the public that it is at the point of completing election reverse logistics for the November 2021 Anambra State Governorship election.
