The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has opened 25 additional centres for the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) in Anambra.

“I am pleased to announce that the Commission has created additional 25 registration centres in Anambra State, and the centres commenced operation by 9:00 a.m. today,” Nwachukwu Orji, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Anambra, said.

At a news conference on Tuesday, he said this brings the number of registration centres to 87 across the state.

He said that the additional centres became necessary due to an upsurge of registrants coming to obtain the Permanent Voter Card (PVC).

Mr Orji added that INEC had reopened the ongoing CVR centres in Ayamelum, Ogbaru and Idemili North Local Government Areas shut down recently due to insecurity.

“In Awka, we have seven centres within the INEC state headquarters, five centres at Dr Alex Ekwueme Square, two centres at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (Unizik) and INEC Local Government Area office, Amawbia,” he stated.

Mr Orji said that INEC had reorganised operational procedures by separating people seeking biometric services from those that require non-biometric services.

“In this sense, biometric service involves fresh registration while non-biometric services include requests for PVC replacement, Voter Transfer, and Update.

“Those requesting non-biometric services need not come to the registration centres, as they could use their Android phones with an internet connection to do it.

“These services can be obtained through the Commission’s CVR portal,” he said.

The official said that the commission had deployed personnel to assist those who could not access the online portal at the various registration centres.

“In areas where the security situation permits, we would extend our time of operation to 3:00 p.m.

“We would continue to expand our public communication to inform and educate members of the public,” he said.

(NAN)