Favour Ikechukwu, PBA Journalism MenteeOfficials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducting voter registration in a village named Umudim in Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State, have been accused of extorting money from registrants.
On Wednesday, 27th July, 2022, Prime Business Africa met with some people that went to the polling unit for voter registration who alleged that INEC officials conducting the exercise collected money from the locals who came to register, and attended to them at the expense of those who were there earlier.
Prime Business Africa learnt that the people who came for the exercise were given numbered forms to fill after which they submitted them. But it was observed that while attending to them, names on the forms were called instead of the numbers which were given out chronologically.
This caused a stir as many people who were left unattended to for hours, began to grumble, expressing their disgust over the development, seeing a good number of people who came late being attended to.
When Prime Business Africa enquired, one of the officials, apparently ignorant of who was asking, replied in Igbo saying, “onye bu igu ka ewu na-eso” which literally means the goat follows whoever carries the palm leaf. This could be interpreted to mean “if u bring money, we will answer you.”
An official was also seen pocketing some money collected from people who have already been attended to. At some point, a pregnant woman who could no longer contain her anger over the turn of event, openly accused them of collecting bribes which they denied immediately and rained insults on the woman. After a while, she was called to register under the guise that they were only helping her because she was pregnant.
One of the registrants who spoke with Prime Business Africa under the condition of anonymity, said he came early, filled the registration form and went out, but upon return, discovered that the officials were taking bribe. He admitted paying the sum of one N1,000 to get his voter registration done as well.
Two other eye witnesses who also spoke with Prime Business Africa at the registration centre both alluded to allegation that the officials actually took bribes from people to attend to them as soon as possible.
At around 5:06pm in the evening, some of those who came early were unable to register and were asked to return on Thursday morning July 28, to continue the process.
The officials involved in the act are apparently, preying on the desperation of people to get registered as the Electoral body announced that it will end the Continuous Voter Registration exercise on July 31, 2022.
INEC commenced the CVR in June 2021 but started recording unprecedented turn out of people for voter registration across the country within the last two months.
READ ALSO: CVR Hits 11m As INEC Ends Voter Registration In 4 Days Time
This is believed by observers to be as a result of the observed growing interest of the citizens in participation in the electoral process with the quest to elect good leader during the 2023 general election.
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