GWAGWALADA (FCT) – Mr Augustine Kure, a registration officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said the turnout of eligible voters at the Continuous Voter Registration was “impressive and encouraging”.
Kure said this in Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT on Tuesday while registering eligible voters in the area.
“Compared to yesterday (Monday), people came out en masse for the registration and we have registered over 600 persons as at 1.00 p.m.,”he said.
He said that the extension of the exercise was a second chance given to many Nigerians who were yet to be registered so as not to be disenfranchised.
“ We began the exercise on Sept. 22 and it would last till Sept. 28,’’ he added.
Mr Abubakar Suleiman, an eligible voter, commended INEC for extending the exercise in the FCT and called on all those who were yet to register to seize the opportunity to do so.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that INEC on Sept. 22 extended the Phase II of the CVR for seven days in 12 affected states.
The affected states are Anambra, Bauchi, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, FCT, Jigawa, Kwara, Ondo, Oyo, Sokoto and Yobe.
A statement signed by Mr Abdulrahman Adamu, FCT INEC Adminstrative Secretary, issued on Monday in Abuja, said that the extension would begin on Sept. 22 and end on Sept. 28.
The commission, however, advised eligible voters in the affected states to take advantage of the extension to register, to enable them to vote in the 2015 general elections.
In the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Mr Emmanuel Idakwo, the Electoral Officer, expressed satisfaction at the turnout.
He said the exercise was critical to enable the populace to participate in the general elections.
He, however, added that the possibility of further extending the exercise might not arise.
Some of the residents, however complained of insufficient manpower at the centres.
Mr Okoli Seb, a residence of AMAC, however, expressed the need for INEC officials to be punctual.
Mr Edward Okoduwa, a student, described the process as “disorganised and unplanned’’.
According to him, “the staff are not competent enough and aren’t well groomed on their role in this registration process”.
He added that two days were enough to conduct the exercise if the officials were ready to put in their best and bring forth positive results.
He advised that more centres be created for the registration to go on effectively.
He appealed to INEC to make provisions for public complaints on the exercise, to avoid interference during the process.
Also speaking, Mrs Maureen Ibrahim, a resident of Karu, FCT, said information about the registration had been helpful as she was directed to her ward from the headquarters.
She advised that the deadline should be extended, saying that the one-week period was not enough. (NAN)
