Multiple registration: 7,000 Imo residents won’t collect PVC, says INEC

The Residents Electoral Commissioner in charge of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Imo state, Francis Ezeonu, has said that over 7,000 people out of the over 16,000 people who registered in the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration Exercise in the state wouldn’t be issued Permanent Voter’s Cards because of multiple registrations.

Eze, who spoke to journalists in Owerri, the state capital, on Thursday, said that multiple registrations was an electoral offence.

He said that the suspension of CVR exercise in some LGA in the state was still invoked owing to the killing of one INEC staff member in Ihitte Uboma LGA.

He said,” The Commission has finished the processing of the registration data for the first and second quarter (June- to December 2021) of the current CVR exercise using Automated Biometric Identification System. Out of the total number of 16, 511 who registered within this period in Imo state, 7,145 were found to be invalid, meaning that they had registered previously. This leaves us with a balance of 9, 366 valid registration.

“This is a clear indicator that the INEC voter registration has come of age and you cannot beat the technology. We, therefore, appeal to those who have registered before not to do so again. Contrary to rumours going around, the PVC does not expire.

“If you have lost your PVC, be honest enough to indicate and provide a court affidavit and you will be missed a replacement rather than attempting a fresh Registration as that will be fruitless. You are also reminded that it is an electoral offence to attempt multiple registrations.

“We wish to inform the public that the Permanent Voter’s Cards for all those who registered in the first and second quarter of the exercise ( June – December 2021) are all ready for collection. All such persons are advised to go to the Local Government Area of their choice polling unit with their temporary Voter’s card to collect their PVC.”