- INEC commenced a 50-day Continuous Voter Registration exercise across all 329 wards of Akwa Ibom State
- The commission rotated voter enrolment devices to wards to reach rural and hard-to-access communities
- Eligible citizens were urged to register at approved ward collation centres to deepen electoral participation
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced a 50-day Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise across all 329 wards of Akwa Ibom State, in a move aimed at deepening grassroots participation in the electoral process.
The ward-level registration exercise, which began on Monday, February 2, will run for 50 days. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday in Uyo by the INEC Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, Mr Bukola Ojeme.
According to Ojeme, the exercise is designed to bring voter registration closer to the people, particularly those in rural and hard-to-reach communities, and to encourage all eligible citizens who are yet to register to take advantage of the opportunity.
He explained that eligible voters can now register at their respective INEC Ward Collation Centres across the 329 wards in the state, with two wards in each local government area attended to daily.
“From Monday, the 2nd of February, registration will be conducted at the ward level for 50 days. We will go through the various wards, serving the public throughout this period,” Ojeme said. “Eligible citizens can now register at the respective INEC Ward Collation Centres in the 329 wards across the state, with two wards in each local government area serviced daily.”
Ojeme clarified that during the 50-day ward-level exercise, only INEC’s state headquarters registration centre would remain operational, while registration activities at the 31 local government area offices would be temporarily suspended.
“The state registration centre will continue to function, but the local government registration centres will move to the wards, attending to two wards each day. After the 50 days, we will return to the local government offices for the remaining days allocated for this phase of the exercise,” he said.
He further disclosed that the INEC Voter Enrolment Devices (IVEDs) currently allocated to each local government would be rotated among the wards to ensure full coverage and inclusiveness.
“No ward will be left out of the exercise. The IVEDs will be rotated across the wards to ensure that every eligible citizen has access to registration,” Ojeme assured.
The INEC spokesperson stressed that only approved Ward Collation Centres would be used for the registration, warning that the commission would not tolerate the use of unauthorised locations.
“Only ward collation centres will be used as registration centres. The commission will not tolerate taking the IVEDs to unauthorised centres,” he warned.
To promote transparency and accountability, Ojeme said INEC had approved a timetable for the rotation of the enrolment devices and directed all Electoral Officers to publicise it widely on stakeholder platforms to enable citizens to monitor the exercise and report any violations.
He urged eligible citizens, particularly those in rural areas, first-time voters and those who have attained voting age, to seize the opportunity to register.
The ward-level exercise forms part of INEC’s resumption of the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration, which took effect on Monday, as preparations gradually intensify ahead of future elections.