Imo State's Voter Register Swells with Over 11,800 New Additions

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Imo State has announced a significant update to its ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, revealing that 11,839 new individuals have been added to the voter roll. This development comes alongside a temporary halt in registration activities within the Egbema area of Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, attributed to prevailing security challenges. Mrs. Emmanuella Ben-Opara, who heads the Voter Education and Publicity Department for INEC in Imo State, shared these details during an interview on "The Brief," a live radio program aired on Groove FM in Owerri, the state capital, on Thursday.

Ben-Opara clarified that these 11,839 registrants are individuals who had not previously enrolled to vote and have likely just reached the constitutional voting age of 18. She confirmed that the CVR process is active across Imo State, with the sole exception being Egbema, where incidents of killings have been reported. To address the security landscape, she noted the active engagement of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, which comprises police personnel and other critical stakeholders, all working towards safeguarding residents and INEC staff.

Providing specific figures, the Head of Voter Education and Publicity stated, "As of Friday, June 13, 2026, we have registered 11,839 new registrants in Imo State." She further elaborated on the security situation, adding, "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." Ben-Opara also highlighted INEC's reach, saying, "INEC officials are even in Orsu Local Government Area registering people. So, we are all over the state." She urged unregistered citizens to participate, stating, "We urge people who have not registered before to come out and register to vote. If you have relocated, you can transfer your polling unit to your new location. However, people can only vote with their Permanent Voter Cards. Nobody with a Temporary Voter Card will be allowed to vote.”

Adding to the discussion, Dr. Maryann Godslight, INEC's Public Affairs Officer in Imo State, gave assurances to persons with disabilities (PWDs), stating that comprehensive arrangements are in place to ensure their seamless participation in both registration and future general elections.

Godslight also observed a notable increase in voter turnout for the current registration phase compared to previous exercises. She remarked, "The turnout has been massive, much higher than in the previous phases. More than 100 people now turn up daily, especially youths. It is as if someone has convinced them to come and register, or something has inspired them this time, because they are coming out in large numbers, which is highly commendable." She concluded by confirming robust security at all registration centers, including mobile ones, and reiterated the call for eligible citizens to register, emphasizing that this is the final phase of the exercise.