INEC suspends CVR after attack on officials in Enugu

 Following an attack on personnel in Enugu, INEC suspends CVR.

INEC LOGO

Following an attack on election personnel, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has halted the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) process in an Enugu State local government.

Gunmen attacked the commission's unidentified personnel on Wednesday at a neighborhood elementary school in Umuozzi Ward 19 of the state's Igboeze North Local Government Area.

Despite the fact that no casualties were reported, INEC national spokesperson Festus Okoye claimed that staff members suffered varying degrees of injuries as a result of the incident.

He claimed that in addition to losing two of its registration machines, the commission also suffered personal property losses among its attackers' workers.

"In order to scatter potential registrants and registration officials, the gunmen intermittently fired into the air. One of our employees was hurt in the ensuing stampede and is currently undergoing medical care in a hospital.

He explained that two voter registration machines and staff members' personal belongings, including mobile phones, had been lost.

Therefore, Ward level voter registration in Igboeze North is hereby suspended, according to a statement released by Mr. Okoye on Thursday.

Regular decimal

The attack on the INEC branch in the Igboeze North LGA of Enugu State on Wednesday is the second to occur there since July.

Yet to be identified arsonists on July 3 attacked the commission’s office in the same LGA before setting the property on fire.

After overcoming the on-duty security guards, the arsonists forced their way inside the building.

There were no reported deaths, but the arsonists' blaze destroyed 748 ballot boxes, 240 polling booths, office supplies, and other items.

In May, PREMIUM TIMES published a report on an assault on the commission office in Igboeze South, a nearby local government.