CLO Urges INEC To Rescue 800,000 Anambra Voters From Disenfranchisement

KINGSLEY EBERE 

The Civil Liberties Organization, CLO, Anambra State Branch has called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Joas Amupitan, to urgently intervene to prevent the possible disenfranchisement of about 800,000 citizens ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The group made the call in a statement issued to newsmen in Awka on Tuesday and endorsed by its Chairman, Evangelist Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme, Secretary Comrade Chidi Mbah, and Comrade Damian Ogudike. The statement was themed “All Hands Must Be On Deck To Enshrine Good Governance”.

According to the CLO, the risk of disenfranchisement stems from inadequate polling units and electoral wards in newly developed housing estates and layouts across the state. The organization said repeated appeals to INEC to create additional wards and polling units in those areas have not yielded results.

The group noted that due to the rising cost of living in urban centers, many residents have relocated to communities such as Nsugbe, Nkwelle, Umunya, Oba, Umuchu and Igbariam. It stated that some of these areas currently have no electoral ward or sufficient polling units to serve the growing population.

CLO cited Nkwelle as an example, saying that from Magazine Junction to Nkwelle, only two polling units exist, located at St. Theresa Parish, Mba Farm and Oyolu Primary School. The organization added that more than 15 housing estates in Nkwelle alone do not have a single polling unit.

The group also urged INEC to extend the Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise to enable more eligible citizens to register. It said the current timeline may not be enough to capture new registrants in underserved areas.

In addition, CLO called for an investigation into alleged extortion of prospective registrants by some INEC officials. The organization alleged that some citizens were asked to pay between ₦2,000 and ₦5,000 before they could be registered.

CLO said it has received several complaints from frustrated registrants. It cited the case of a resident of Onitsha South, who alleged that her daughter visited the INEC office three times to register but was allegedly asked to pay ₦3,000. The group said she refused to pay and was not registered.

The organization said the situation requires urgent intervention to restore public confidence in the electoral process and protect the integrity of elections in the state. It argued that creating more wards and polling units will give residents in new settlements a sense of belonging and equal opportunity to vote.

CLO further stated that failure to address the gaps could lead to voter apathy and undermine democratic participation. The group quoted Edmund Burke, saying “Evil triumphs not because of those who do it, but because good people sit back and do nothing”.

The organization urged INEC to act swiftly by approving additional polling units, extending the CVR, and sanctioning any official found culpable of extortion. It said such actions would serve as a deterrent and strengthen trust in the system.

CLO emphasized that access to voter registration and polling units is a constitutional right and must not be hindered by logistics or alleged misconduct. The group said it remains committed to monitoring the process and engaging stakeholders to ensure free, fair and inclusive elections.