The Independent National Electoral Commission in Imo State says over one fifty two thousand new permanent Voters Cards, updates and transfers are ready for collection in various local government areas of the State.
Addressing election stakeholders in Owerri the Imo State capital, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Sylvia Agu appealed to political parties and other stakeholders to assist the electoral body in sensitizing the public on the need to collect their Permanent Voters Cards for the 2023 general elections.
The factional Chairman of the State Inter-party Advisory Council, IPAC, Uchendu Ahaneku, expressed worry over the security situation in the State which the Commissioner of Police in the Imo State, Muhammed Barde reiterated the Command’s readiness to address before the general elections.
The Security Situation in Imo State has been a major source of concern for stakeholders especially with the State now seemingly under the siege of the so called unknown gunmen who have shown they are not bothered about human or material.
They have been on rampage killing and maiming with no institution or Building left without suffering any blemish whatsoever including the Church.
Prelate of the Anglican Communion was kidnapped in the State earlier in the year while staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission have also been killed aside the attacks on its facilities in the State.
Though the commission made a major breakthrough in its efforts aimed at stemming the tide of seemingly relentless attacks with the arrest of a gang of marauders with two brothers who were said to have been behind the last weekend’s attack on the facilities of the commission in Orlu by the Department of State Services.
Observers will now watch with keen interest how the distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards will go ahead without disruption since the Continous Voter Registration was also disrupted by the So called Unknown Gunmen who those in the Security Forces have always accused of being members of the armed wing of the Proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Eastern Security Network.