INEC register 188,000 new voters in Cross River ahead of 2019 polls

Cross River State Resident Electoral Commissioner Dr. Frankland Briyai 

188,000 new voters have been registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Cross River State, in the ongoing continuous voters registration ahead of the 2019 polls.

Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Frankland Briyai revealed this to newsmen when members of the Association of Cross River Online Journalists (ACROJ) paid a familiarization visit to his office in Calabar.

Briyai who said the Commission has distributed about 5,000 Permanent Voters Cards (PVS) so far however added that more than 72,000 (Seventy two thousand) were yet to be collected in the state.

Some ACROJ members with the REC during the visit

He acknowledged the role of the media in electoral activities even as he called on journalists to always get details and verify facts before going to press.

The REC noted that elections matters were sensitive issues that if not accurately reported, may trigger negative or violent reaction from citizens.

Responding, the Chairman of ACROJ, Mr. Hope Obeten, emphasized the need for closer interaction and engagement between the media and the Commission, stressing that it would ensure balanced and fair reportage in the nation’s interest.

He said: “ACROJ has over 10 active online platforms reporting news from Cross River State, we will continue to maintain professionalism and strengthen the cordial relationship we have cultivated with the Commission”.