The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has clarified that the Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise commencing on July 8, 2025, in Anambra State is strictly meant for the November 8 governorship election, and not for the upcoming Senate or House of Assembly bye-elections.
Dr. Elizabeth Agwu, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Anambra, made this clarification at a press briefing in Awka on Thursday.
She emphasized that the CVR will not be used for the August 16 bye-elections, as voters participating in those will rely on their existing Permanent Voter Cards.
The CVR, according to Agwu, will run daily from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., excluding Mondays, and end on July 17.
She urged all eligible residents to take advantage of the opportunity to register afresh or update their voter information. While fresh registrations must be completed physically at INEC centres, data corrections can be handled online.
“Do not pay for voter registration, it is illegal,” she warned, adding that INEC will not register anyone by proxy or outside official hours, as the registration portal will close automatically each day by 3:00 p.m.
She noted that INEC will display a provisional voter register after the registration period for public scrutiny and corrections.
READ ALSO: Groups submit multiple party requests to INEC
To enhance preparedness, training for ad-hoc election committee members will take place on Friday and Saturday, as part of a broader strategy ahead of the November poll.
On logistics and planning, Agwu revealed that 300 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices have been configured and that arrangements with the National Youth Service Corps are complete for the deployment of corps members as ad-hoc staff.
INEC has also signed agreements with registered transport unions to ensure seamless movement of election materials.
She added that non-sensitive materials are already in the state, while sensitive materials will arrive soon. INEC has also requested the use of public facilities for equitable campaign access.
Reiterating INEC’s commitment to a free, fair, and peaceful election, Agwu warned against thuggery, vote-buying, and any form of electoral violence, noting that the commission is working with security agencies to maintain order.
Sixteen political parties are fielding candidates in the governorship race, and Agwu urged them to campaign peacefully and mobilize voters, assuring residents of a secure environment on election day.
She concluded by disclosing that a nationwide CVR would commence immediately after the bye-election to prepare for the 2027 general elections.
NAN
