The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has registered 11,839 new voters in Imo State as part of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, while temporarily suspending registration activities in Egbema, Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, due to security concerns.
The disclosure was made by INEC’s Head of Voter Education and Publicity in Imo State, Mrs Emmanuella Ben-Opara, during a live appearance on The Brief, a radio programme on Groove FM Owerri.
According to Ben-Opara, the newly registered voters are largely first-time registrants who recently attained the constitutional voting age of 18 years and are now eligible to participate in future elections.
She explained that the voter registration exercise is continuing across all parts of Imo State except Egbema, where reports of violent attacks and killings prompted a temporary suspension of the exercise to protect both residents and electoral officials.
“As of Friday, June 13, 2026, we have registered 11,839 new registrants in Imo State,” Ben-Opara said.
“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 noted that the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), comprising the police and other relevant stakeholders, remains active in the state and is working to ensure the safety of residents and electoral personnel throughout the registration period.
Ben-Opara also urged eligible residents who have not previously registered to take advantage of the exercise. She reminded voters who have relocated from their original locations that they can apply for a transfer of their polling units to their current places of residence.
She stressed that only holders of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will be eligible to vote during elections, adding that Temporary Voter Cards (TVCs) will not be accepted at polling units.
Meanwhile, INEC’s Public Affairs Officer in Imo State, Dr Maryann Godslight, disclosed that voter turnout for the current registration exercise has exceeded expectations, particularly among young people.
“The turnout has been massive, much higher than in previous phases. More than 100 people now turn up daily, especially youths. It is as if something has inspired them to come out and register,” she said.
Godslight further assured persons living with disabilities that the commission has put adequate measures in place to ensure they can register and participate in elections without difficulty.
She also confirmed that security arrangements have been strengthened at all registration centres, including mobile and rotating centres, to guarantee the safety of prospective voters.
With the registration exercise entering its final phase, INEC is encouraging all eligible residents of Imo State to complete their registration and obtain their PVCs ahead of future elections.
