The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that 11,839 new voters have been registered in Imo State under 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 while speaking on The Brief, a live radio programme on Groove FM in Owerri, the state capital, on Thursday.
According to her, the newly registered voters are first-time registrants, many of whom recently attained the constitutional voting age of 18 years.
“As of Friday, June 13, 2026, we have registered 11,839 new registrants in Imo State.
“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.
“INEC officials are even in Orsu Local Government Area registering people. So, we are all over the state. 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,” Ben-Opara said.
She also noted that the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security remains active in the state, with the police and other security stakeholders working together to guarantee the safety of residents, electoral officials and registration centres.
Also speaking during the programme, INEC’s Public Affairs Officer in Imo State, Dr. Maryann Godslight, assured persons living with disabilities that the commission had made adequate arrangements to ensure they experience seamless registration and voting during the general elections.
Godslight also revealed that the ongoing CVR exercise has witnessed a significantly higher turnout compared to previous registration phases, particularly among young people.
“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.
“We have adequate security at all the registration centres, including the rotating centres. We call on people to come out and register to vote because this is the last phase,” she said.
