The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that 11,839 new voters have been registered in Imo State as part of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
The commission, however, disclosed that registration activities were temporarily suspended in Egbema, located in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, due to security concerns arising from reported killings in the area.
INEC’s Head of Department for Voter Education and Publicity in Imo State, Mrs Emmanuella Ben-Opara, made the disclosure on Thursday while speaking on a live radio programme, The Brief, on Groove FM in Owerri.
According to her, the registered voters are individuals who had not previously enrolled and had likely just attained the constitutional voting age of 18.
“As of Friday, June 13, 2026, we have registered 11,839 new registrants in Imo State,” Ben-Opara said.
She explained that the registration exercise is ongoing across the state, with the exception of Egbema, where operations were halted following security threats. However, she noted that security agencies have assured the commission that calm has returned to the area.
“Currently, registration is ongoing throughout the state except in Egbema, where it was temporarily suspended because of reported killings. However, the police have assured us that normalcy has returned, so we are going back there,” she stated.
Ben-Opara added that INEC officials are actively carrying out registration in all parts of the state, including Orsu Local Government Area, and urged eligible residents who have not registered to take advantage of the exercise.
She also reminded voters who have relocated to apply for polling unit transfers, stressing that only holders of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will be eligible to vote in future elections.
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“Nobody with a Temporary Voter Card will be allowed to vote,” she said.
Also speaking during the programme, INEC Public Affairs Officer in Imo State, Dr Maryann Godslight, assured persons living with disabilities that adequate arrangements have been made to ensure smooth registration and participation during elections.
Godslight noted that the turnout for the current phase of voter registration has surpassed previous exercises, with a significant increase in youth participation.
“The turnout has been massive, much higher than in the previous phases. More than 100 people now turn up daily, especially youths,” she said.
She further assured residents that security personnel have been deployed to registration centres across the state, including rotating centres, and encouraged eligible citizens to register before the exercise concludes.
“This is the last phase. We call on people to come out and register to vote,” she added.