The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) suspended the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in a local government in Imo state after the murder of its employee.
This was announced by the INEC spokesman, Festus Okoye, this Thursday.
It said a commission staff member identified as Nwokorie Anthony, was shot dead in Nkwo Ihitte (PU 004) in Amakohia Ward (RA 02) of Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area in the state by unknown gunmen on Thursday.
Mr. Anthony was among the INEC ad hoc staff registering community members for the 2023 general election when the tragedy occurred.
The whereabouts of two other affected staff members are unknown as security officers widen their search in the area.
Due to fears of insecurity, the Nigerian Electoral Referee had previously suspended the CVR exercise in Orsu and Njaba, two of the LGAs in Imo State.
“Prior to this incident, the Commission had suspended the CVR in the Orsu and Njaba local government areas of the state due to insecurity, while the exercise is being held only at the INEC LGA office in Oru East, Oru West. , Orlu and Ohaji – Egbema Local Government Areas of the state,” Mr. Okoye said.
Mr. Okoye expressed the commission’s condolences to the family of the deceased and urged the public and various unions in Imo State to help protect their officials.
The latest attack, which claimed the life of Mr Anthony, is one of many the commission has recorded over the past three years at its offices and facilities over the last three years.
Like the states of Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Anambra and Abia, the INEC offices in Imo have seen a series of attacks.
There was an arson attack on an INEC office in the Orlu local government in February 2019 after a court ordered a rerun of elections in the state.
Another building belonging to the commission was also set on fire in Imo state in May.
Read the full INEC statement:
INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION
PRESS RELEASE
ONGOING VOTER REGISTRATION: ATTACK ON OFFICIALS IN IMO STATE
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in the Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State.
This is a follow-up to a report by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Professor Emeka Ezeonu, to the effect that today, April 14, 2022, Mr Nwokorie Anthony, a member of the Commission’s office staff at the Imo State involved in the ongoing TRC exercise, was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Nkwo Ihitte (PU 004) in Amakohia District (RA 02) of Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area. The REC further reported that the State Office is making efforts to locate the whereabouts of the remaining two staff members involved in the registration exercise.
Prior to this incident, the Commission had suspended the CVR in the Orsu and Njaba local government areas of the state due to insecurity, while the exercise is being held only at the INEC LGA office in Oru East, Oru West, Orlu and Ohaji – Egbema Local State Government Areas.
The Commission extends its condolences to the family of Nwokorie Anthony and prays that God grant them the strength to bear their loss. The incident has been reported to security agencies in order to unravel the circumstances that led to this unfortunate incident and bring the culprits to justice.
We urge the president general of the various municipal unions in Imo state, as well as all critical stakeholders, to protect the Commission staff who are engaged in national allocation. Staff safety is of paramount importance to the Commission, particularly with the return of the voter registration exercise beyond our state and local government area offices in our determination to better reserve Nigerians.
Festus Okoye Esq.
National Commissioner and Chairman of the Voter Information and Education Committee.
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Thursday, April 14, 2022