The upcoming Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Edo
State, scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to
begin on Monday, May 27, 2024, is facing a potential setback due to flooding
that destroyed several configured machines.
Last week, INEC announced the commencement of the CVR exercise, aimed
at registering new voters who have turned 18 and allowing current voters to
transfer their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to their preferred locations ahead
of the September 21 governorship election.
In a statement released on Saturday, Sam Olumekun, National
Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee,
informed the public that a torrential downpour on Friday night caused
significant flooding at the INEC headquarters in Benin City. This flood
resulted in the destruction of several voter enrollment machines. The incident
was reported to INEC’s National Headquarters in Abuja by Edo State’s Resident
Electoral Commissioner, Anugbum Onuoha.
“Our Resident Electoral Commissioner for Edo State, Dr. Anugbum
Onuoha, has reported that our State Headquarters in Benin City was completely
flooded following a torrential rainfall on Friday, May 24, 2024. Some of the
voter enrollment machines already configured for the forthcoming Continuous
Voter Registration (CVR) are affected,” Olumekun stated.
He added that the heavy rain damaged a section of the building,
submerging both movable and immovable items, including vehicles, office
furniture, and equipment.
Despite the setback, Olumekun reassured the public that the state
headquarters would be relocated to its Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area as
initially planned. Additionally, INEC is arranging for extra machines from
neighboring states to cover the shortage.
Olumekun confirmed that INEC is
committed to ensuring the CVR process will proceed as scheduled across all 192
wards in Edo State starting Monday.
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