Voter Registration: Ebonyi Lawmaker Seeks More Machines

The member representing Ikwo/Ezza South federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Chinedu Ogah, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to deploy more registration machines to the local government areas in Ebonyi State following the large turnout since the commencement of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in the state.

Ogah who made the appeal during a sensitisation campaign organised by the Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru Youth Movement in Ikwo local government area. He expressed concern that those who come from the hinterlands to the council headquarters to participate in the exercise spend several hours unattended to by the commission’s officials.

He noted that to ensure speedily registration, the commission should deploy more machines and manpower to the local government registration centres adding that the local government is so large that it would be impossible for the people of the area to all get registered considering the time, manpower and machine deployed to the area.

“Let me use this opportunity to make a passionate appeal to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deploy more voter registration machines to Ikwo Local Government Area. Ikwo LGA is so large that the machine deployed will not be adequate to capture the population of the local government.

“One machine is insufficient for effective voter registration and i am calling for the establishment of additional registration points to ensure a smooth and speedy process. This is essential to also ensure a fair electoral process, were no one is marginalized or denied registration.” he said.

He urged all eligible citizens to take advantage of the ongoing voter registration exercise by obtaining their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), emphasizing that it is the most vital tool for sustaining the developmental momentum under the current administration.

“Your PVC is your power. “It is the most effective way to reciprocate the love and opportunities President Tinubu and Governor Francis Nwifuru, has extended to the youth and the entire people of Ebonyi State. Let us be prepared to re-elect them for a second term to continue this good work.”

He further called on party members and supporters to remain committed and united in mobilising grassroots support for the governor’s re-election, describing it as a collective responsibility toward securing a brighter future for Ebonyi State and Nigeria at large.

Similarly, the chairman, Ikwo local government area, Barr. Sunday Nwankwo also said that the local government is currently providing transport and other logistics support to indigenes of the local government to enable them move from the hinterlands to the local government headquarters to participate in the exercise.

He said that Ikwo local government area indigenes residing in all the states of the federation is also being supported with logistics and encouraged to transfer their registration centres to the state to enable them vote for the state governor and President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

“We in the local government area are more committed than ever before to ensure that every indigene of Ikwo that is of voting age is encouraged to register.”

He urged the people of Ikwo to continue to support the president and the state governor to enable them consolidate on the strides so far achieved.

The state commander, Ebonyi State Neighborhood Watch, Comrade Chiboyi Nwenyi frowned at the vandalisation of government facilities in some parts of the state and urged youths of the state to shun criminal activities, hard and illicit drugs amongst other social vices.

He said that intake of such illicit drugs have destroyed the lives of many youths leading them into criminal acts. “Our parents especially women, should please warn your children to desist from getting involved in criminal activities. Security agencies including my team are battle ready to clampdown on those involved in the vandalization of government facilities and those who engage in illicit drugs,” he added.