By STANLEY NWANOSIKE

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has decried what it described as `abysmal 1,801’ fresh registrations in the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) in Enugu State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that INEC started the CVR online registration on Aug. 18, while the in-person registration started nationwide on Aug. 28.

Chief Rex Achumie, Head of Department (HOD), Voter Education and Publicity, INEC Enugu told NAN on Tuesday that only 1,801 had registered in the past 15 days of in-person CVR exercise in the area.

According to Achumie, the 15 days of CVR registration period covered from Aug. 25 to Sept. 12 in INEC’s CVR centres in the state.

The HOD, who noted that the 1,801 comprised 896 males and 905 females, said that the fresh registration remained abysmally low as an average state record about 25,000 fresh registrations in the same period.

“The CVR has been ongoing smoothly. We do not have any record of connectivity challenges; or lack of manpower or lack of machines to do the job.

“The challenge we have is the low turnout of residents for the exercise and it is appalling to see people trickling to the CVR centres at wide intervals each day.

“The rate of turnout is low and discouraging notwithstanding INEC engagements with electoral stakeholders before the exercise commenced.

“The electoral and political stakeholders need to help in the sensitisation of people who turned 18 years and people not registered before now,” he said.

Achumie noted that the CVR and its fresh registration remained important in the electoral process, adding, “It should be given the seriousness and attention it deserves because obtaining the card Is imperative to voting during elections”.

“CVR registration is not just a political party affair, but every Nigerian within the voting age should be concerned even if one does not belong to any political party.”

NAN reports that the CVR, which runs from Monday to Friday, between 9a.m. and 4p.m., is being held in the INEC’s State Headquarters in Enugu and INEC’s offices in the 17 council area secretariats across the state. (NAN)