INEC Warns Against Double Registration, Records 4,423 New Voters in Anambra CVR

 

By Uche Kalu 

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cautioned residents of Anambra State against double voter registration, warning that offenders risk losing their eligibility to obtain a Permanent Voter Card (PVC).

The Anambra State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Elizabeth Agwu, gave the warning during a media briefing on the progress of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Awka.

She disclosed that the commission recorded 4,423 new registrants in the second phase of the exercise, describing the turnout as encouraging while urging more eligible voters to take advantage of the registration window.

“Double registration automatically invalidates a person’s record and disqualifies such an individual from getting a PVC,” Agwu warned, stressing that the commission’s system is designed to detect and reject multiple entries.

Commending the media for its role in information dissemination and public enlightenment, the REC noted that the CVR for the 2027 elections commenced on January 5, 2026, and is currently in its fifth week. The exercise, she added, will run until April 17, 2026.

She, however, cautioned against last-minute registration, observing that many eligible voters often wait until the final days — April 15, 16 and 17 — resulting in overcrowding at registration centres and operational delays.

To ease the process, Agwu explained that the INEC State Headquarters in Awka has two registration points and is open to all eligible voters, irrespective of their local government areas, wards or polling units within the state.

Providing a breakdown of the exercise, she said no registration was recorded during the first week (January 5–12), but participation improved significantly in subsequent weeks, bringing the cumulative total to 4,423 registrants.

The REC also called on residents with damaged PVCs, those seeking transfer or change of polling units, and individuals who have yet to collect their cards to visit the INEC office for assistance.

Highlighting technological improvements, Agwu said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) performed efficiently during the last Anambra governorship election and received commendation from both local and international observers. She added that recent upgrades have further reduced system glitches.

In addition, she announced plans to deploy BVAS machines to tertiary institutions to enable students register conveniently on their campuses.

While appreciating the Anambra State Government for its previous awareness campaigns, Agwu urged intensified sensitisation to boost participation in the ongoing CVR. She said INEC would continue to collaborate with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), and traditional communication channels, including town criers, to reach grassroots communities.

Reiterating the importance of the PVC, the REC noted that beyond voting, the card serves as a valid means of identification and contributes to credible population data for national planning and federal resource allocation.

She further revealed that the commission is strengthening its technology to automatically block duplicate registrations, ensuring that once a person is captured, any future attempt is rejected by the system.