INEC Discovers 27,817 Multiple Registrations in Anambra CVR Exercise

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the discovery and removal of 27,817 multiple registrations from the recently concluded Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Anambra State.

This thorough vetting process has resulted in a net addition of 146,353 new voters to the state’s register ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.

The commission disclosed this in a statement issued by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, on Thursday in Abuja.

Olumekun stated that the commission met and deliberated on the final register of voters for the November 8 Anambra governorship election.

He noted that following the registration exercise, which saw 168,187 residents register as new voters between July 8 and 20, INEC set aside July 26 and August 1 for the display of all new registrants for claims and objections, “in line with Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2022.” He added that the commission then meticulously “scrutinised the list using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) to detect invalid registrations.”

“At the end of the process, 27,817 records were found to be double or multiple registrations and removed from the list,” Olumekun said. “Consequently, the figure for new registrants now stands at 140,370 while valid applications for transfer into the State is 5,983, making a total of 146,353 new voters.”

This development means the state’s voter roll has seen a significant update. “Prior to the recent voter registration, Anambra had 2,656,437 registered voters. With the new registrants, the voters roll for the state now stands at 2,802,790,” the national commissioner confirmed.

He also provided a breakdown of the figures, noting that “Idemili North with 246,318 (8.79 per cent) has the highest number of registered voters, followed by Awka South with 216,611 (7.73 per cent) and Ogbaru with 188,016 (6.71 per cent).” In contrast, “Dunokofia and Anambra West have 83,580 (2.98 per cent) and 71,332 (2.55 per cent) registered voters respectively.”

Olumekun assured all new voters in Anambra, as well as those who applied for transfers or replacement of their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), that “their cards would be ready for collection before the state governorship election.”

In a related matter, the statement revealed that the commission has received an additional 19 letters of intent from associations seeking to be registered as political parties, bringing the total to 171 as of September 3. A shortlist of pre-qualified associations is being finalised.

Olumekun appealed to these associations “to remain patient as INEC finalise the process,” and urged them “to avoid frequent changes to their logos, acronyms and addresses or one association submitting multiple requests.”

He reassured them that “the commission would treat all applications fairly,” and that the latest updates had been uploaded to INEC’s official website for public information.