FIC Report (Imo State) – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that 11,839 new voters have been registered in Imo State under the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to strengthening democratic participation and expanding citizens’ access to the electoral process.
According to the Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, INEC Imo State, Mrs. Emmanuella Ben-Opara, the newly registered voters are predominantly first-time registrants who recently attained the constitutional voting age of 18, reflecting increasing interest among eligible citizens, particularly young people, in the electoral process.
Mrs. Ben-Opara explained that the registration exercise is currently ongoing across the state, except in Egbema, Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, where registration activities were temporarily suspended due to security concerns arising from reported incidents of violence. She, however, noted that registration would soon resume in the area following assurances from security agencies that normalcy has been restored.
She urged eligible citizens who are yet to register to take advantage of the exercise, while advising those who have relocated from their original places of registration to apply for polling unit transfers to their new locations.
INEC, she said, remains committed to ensuring that all eligible citizens have the opportunity to participate in the electoral process, emphasizing that only holders of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) would be eligible to vote during elections.
Further speaking, the Public Affairs Officer of INEC in Imo State, Dr. Maryann Godslight, assured Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) that adequate measures have been put in place to guarantee their seamless participation in both voter registration and future electoral processes.
Dr. Godslight noted that the current phase of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise has recorded a significantly higher turnout compared to previous registration exercises, with many registration centres witnessing increased daily participation, particularly among young people.
She disclosed that the exercise has continued to witness impressive participation across the state, with several registration centres recording more than one hundred prospective voters daily, an indication of growing civic awareness and commitment to democratic participation among the electorate.
Dr. Godslight further assured residents that adequate security arrangements have been deployed to all registration centres, including mobile and rotational centres, to ensure a safe, peaceful and seamless registration process.
The Commission called on all eligible citizens who have not previously registered, as well as those seeking voter transfer or data correction services, to visit designated registration centres and complete the process before the close of the exercise.
Chika Anurunwa, PIPRO/ANIPR
18/6/2026
