Edo guber: Voters registration may suffer setback as flood destroyed CVR machines

The Continuous Voters Registration, CVR, exercise slated to commence on Monday, by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, ahead of the September 21, governorship election in Edo State may suffer a setback as several machines already configured for the exercise have been destroyed by flood.

Newspot reports that INEC had last week slated Monday, May 27, 2024, for the commencement of the Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, to register those who have attained the voting age of 18 years, and also give opportunity for those that wished to transfer their Permanent Voters Card to their location of choice to do so.

A statement by Sam Olumekun,

National Commissioner and Chairman,

Information and Voter Education Committee, on Saturday, made available to newsmen, said the machines were destroyed by flood that took over the commission’s headquarters office in Benin City following a torrential rainfall on Friday night.

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Olumekun said the incident was reported to the National Headquarters of the Commission in Abuja by the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Edo State, Anugbum Onuoha.

According to him: “Our Resident Electoral Commissioner for Edo State, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, has reported that our State Headquarters in Benin City was completely flooded following a torrential rainfall yesterday Friday, 24th May 2024.

“Some of the voter enrollment machines already configured for the forthcoming Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) are affected.”

Olumekun added that preliminary assessment revealed that the heavy downpour damaged a section of the building.

“Movable and immovable items were submerged, including vehicles parked at the premises as well as office furniture and equipment,” he stated.

Olumekun, however, disclosed that the state headquarters would be relocated to its Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area as a registration centre as planned.

He added that INEC is delivering additional machines from the neighbouring states to make up for the shortfall.

He, however, assured that the commission is determined to ensure that the CVR in all the 192 wards across Edo State will proceed on Monday as scheduled.