…as INEC calls on eligible citizens to take advantage of the exercise to secure their PVCs
AWKA, NIGERIA – The iNews Times | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recorded 4,423 new voters in Anambra State within the first four weeks of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Dr Queen Elizabeth Agwu, disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Awka on Wednesday, noting a steady rise in participation since the exercise commenced on January 5, 2026. The registration is scheduled to run until April 17, 2026.
Agwu urged all eligible citizens aged 18 years and above to take advantage of the exercise to secure their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), advising residents to complete their registration early to avoid last-minute pressure or demands for an extension.
She emphasised that beyond voting, the PVC now serves broader purposes, including identification and certain banking services. According to her, the card remains a vital national document obtainable once in a lifetime.
“The voter card does so many things today. It is no longer used only for voting; it serves as a vital and authentic means of identification in the country and for banking services. Everybody needs to have it, and it is something you obtain once in a lifetime,” she said.
The REC also warned against attempts at double registration, explaining that the commission’s data cleansing system would detect and automatically reject duplicate entries.
“Anyone who registers twice will be screened out by the computer, and all the effort will be wasted. Please, do not attempt double registration,” Agwu cautioned.
She further clarified that voters are free to register at any centre and later be assigned to their preferred wards. Residents who have relocated or whose voter cards are damaged were encouraged to utilise the ongoing exercise to update their records ahead of the 2027 elections.
Agwu appealed to the Anambra State Government to support ongoing mobilisation efforts, stressing that official directives from government authorities often encourage broader public participation.
Highlighting technological progress, she assured that INEC is building on lessons from previous elections, with improvements planned for the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). She noted that the commission received commendations following the 2025 Anambra governorship election and expects stronger performance in 2027.
“We are working very hard as INEC to ensure that our technology continues to improve. In 2027, BVAS will perform better than it did in 2023 because our system is continually improving,” she added.
The Continuous Voter Registration exercise is currently ongoing across the 36 states of the federation, while the Federal Capital Territory is excluded due to ongoing council area elections.
Agwu also commended the media for its role in publicising the November 8, 2025 governorship election in Anambra, urging continued collaboration as INEC prepares for the next general elections.
