The Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise in the 326 wards and registration collation centres in Anambra State, yesterday turned sour when some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Onitsha were accused of selling the voter cards and registration intent form for N200 and N500 respectively.

It was alleged that in some registration collation centres in the commercial city of Onitsha, some INEC staff allegedly demanded between N200 and N500 from people waiting to be registered before they were given forms to fill.

Though the Public Relations Officer of INEC in the state, Mr. Frank Egbo, said the commission had a form, which every intending voter must fill and submit before registration, he stressed that the forms were not for sale.

At the Nigeria Customs Service Barracks, Onitsha, it was gathered that the INEC staff deployed to the area made brisk business with the photocopies of the forms, which they allegedly gave out to unsuspecting members of the public at N200 and N500 respectively.

One of the victims of the fraud, who pleaded anonymity, said they had been coming to the venue of the registration since Wednesday without success following the faulty machines and the fraudulent activities of some INEC staff, whom he accused of receiving financial gratification to register people.

A police source, who pleaded anonymity, said even the materials that were meant for CVR in Okpoko Police Station were allegedly diverted to an unknown place by some INEC staff.

Source: The Sun