The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the relocation of voter registration centres from four local government areas in Borno State to Maiduguri, the state capital, due to persistent insecurity in the affected areas.
The decision, according to INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Borno, Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim, was taken to safeguard staff, equipment, and prospective voters participating in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
Speaking during a press briefing in Maiduguri on Wednesday, Ibrahim listed the affected local government areas as Marte, Guzamala, Abadam, and Kukawa, noting that these councils have remained volatile as a result of insurgent activities.
“While we are committed to ensuring every eligible citizen registers to vote, we cannot compromise the safety of our personnel and materials. Relocating the centres to Maiduguri is a temporary but necessary measure,” he stated.
He explained that residents from the affected LGAs can now complete their voter registration at designated centres within Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, with arrangements made for their data to be properly tagged to their original LGs of residence.
The REC assured that INEC was working closely with security agencies to monitor the situation in the state and would return the registration exercise to the affected areas once it was deemed safe.
Borno, one of the states most affected by Boko Haram insurgency and related security challenges, has in recent years witnessed disruptions to electoral activities in several rural communities.
Ibrahim appealed to political leaders, traditional rulers, and community heads to sensitise residents on the temporary relocation and encourage their participation in the CVR to avoid disenfranchisement in future elections.
Follow us on all social media platforms @dailyquery for news and analyses around the globe.
