OMOR Community in Ayamelum Council Area of Anambra State has raised alarm over the impending massive disenfranchisement that awaits her people in 2019, if Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, does not release more machines to register them.
The community made the call at the Central School Field, Omor, the venue where the continuous Voter Registration is designated.
The School Field was filled to capacity as people of Omor who are predominantly farmers defied the rains and trooped out in their number to register their disappointment over the inability of the INEC to register them.
It was gathered that earlier in the day the roads leading to the farms were blocked to enable the farmers to participate in the exercise.
However, visible at the arena of voter registration point for INEC, were only 3 Direct Data Capturing Machines, DDC, out of which one was not functional.
On arrival, INEC officials designated for the exercise were seen seated but no activity was going on as they gave reasons ranging from lack of paper and ink, spoiled computer charger and lack of fuel to the power generator, to inability to download already-captured data and system failure.
The traditional ruler of the Community, Igwe Oranu Chidume acknowledged that the community had assisted the best it could to ensure that the process takes place but lamented that despite their efforts, nothing has changed.
While calling on the electoral body to release more machines for the Community, Igwe Chidume emphasized that if nothing is done urgently to register the teeming unregistered persons, the people will not only be disenfranchised but also the community will not be able to reflect its
true numerical strength in terms of voting.
Some of the farmers who spoke to newsmen on how they have tried severally without success to be registered include, Nnenna Igboamalu, Onuzurike Nwankwo and Josephine Madukom.
Speaking on the issue, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties and Continuous Voter Registration, Mrs Amaka Akudo said the Governor had envisaged the challenge of massive disenfranchisement faced by the people of the state and had created the office to squarely initiate
measures to address the issue, adding that the effort by the community is highly commendable as it will complement what government is doing towards effective mobilization of the people to participate in the exercise.
Reacting to the development, the Head, Voter Education and Publicity Department, INEC Headquarters in Awka, Mr Leo Nkedife while acknowledging that the daily returns from the council area have been rather unimpressive, said they are working with the Electoral Officer in charge, Mr Experience Yama, to improve the process especially as regards provision of more DDC machines.
The CVR exercise which is undertaken by the INEC is for persons who just attained 18 years and above from the last time of registration and also during the exercise, persons whose Permanent Voters Cards got lost, damaged or had their data got wrong, as well as those who wish to transfer their Voters Cards also have the opportunity to
rectify the problems.
and then