Anambra Guber: NANS Demands Immediate Extension of Voter Registration

By Ukpa Ewa

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Joint Campus Committee (JCC), Anambra State, has issued a strong demand to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Anambra State by at least 10 days.

The students warned that failure to do so within 48 hours would lead to massive protests that could shut down major roads and INEC offices across the state.

Addressing Journalists during a press conference in Awka, the NANS JCC Chairman, Comrade Okpala Matthew Okoye said INEC was deliberately disenfranchising students by failing to deploy adequate registration machines and personnel to tertiary institutions across the state. He described the situation as a “coordinated and politically motivated exclusion of students” from the democratic process.

According to Okoye, institutions such as Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (Igbariam and Uli campuses), Nnamdi Azikiwe University (Awka and Nnewi), Federal Polytechnic Oko, Federal College of Education Umunze, Anambra State Polytechnic Mgbakwu, Nwafor Orizu College of Education Nsugbe, and Anambra State College of Health Obosi have either received no registration equipment or only one non-functional machine.

“The 10 day registration period granted to Anambra is both unfair and discriminatory, especially when states like Edo, Ondo and Osun enjoyed up to 20 days. INEC must act now. We are not asking for special treatment , we are demanding our rights,”

He further revealed that at the Igbariam campus of COOU, no student has been registered due to faulty machines and poor internet connectivity.

Student leaders across various campuses supported the call for an extension, sharing similar experiences of neglect and exclusion.

In his remarks, SUG President of Federal College of Education (Technical) Comrade Anyigor Solomon, Umunze, noted that no INEC officials have visited their school since the exercise began. “We have reached out countless times, yet no response. Now we are being cut off from participating in elections,” he said.

Similarly , the Anambra State Polytechnic Mgbakwu SUG President Comrade Ugochukwu described the deployment of just one machine as “a joke,” stating that it cannot even serve a single hostel, let alone the entire campus and surrounding community.

On his part, the SUG President of Metallurgical Training Institute Onitsha Comrade Nwabueze Victor, said no official from INEC had been seen anywhere near the school. “Our entire institution has been left out. Not one person has been registered,” he lamented.

While Comrade Asangwo Charles, speaking for the Council of Departmental Presidents at Anambra State College of Health Technology, Obosi, emphasized that voter registration was a fundamental right. “We are not begging. We are demanding what is ours as Nigerian citizens. INEC must come to our school and register students now,” he said.