Voter registration: S/East, Lagos, Kano get additional 209 enrolment machines

The Independent National Electoral Commission says it has deployed additional 209 voter enrolment machines in Lagos, Kano states and the five states in the South-East to ease congestion at the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration centres.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said this in a statement, on Saturday.

He said the action of INEC was based on reports received from states indicating an unprecedented surge in the number of citizens wishing to register as voters and the challenges being faced.

He said the reports indicated that in some states, the turnout of prospective registrants was overwhelming.

He said, “Consequently, the commission convened an urgent meeting with all the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on Thursday, to review the situation so that eligible Nigerians who wish to register are able to do so.

“The necessity to urgently deploy more voter enrollment machines to ease the congestion at the registration centres was identified as a priority.

“In response, the commission has immediately released additional 209 machines deployed mainly to the five South Eastern states, Lagos and Kano where the pressure is most acute.”

He said that the commission would monitor the situation over the next few days.

INEC, he said, would thereafter meet to review the progress of the exercise.

He appealed for patience and understanding of all citizens.

Okoye also said that every step would be taken and all options would be explored to ensure that eligible Nigerians were given the opportunity to register as voters.

He said, “Every Nigerian who is 18 years of age and above has the constitutional right to register and vote in any part of the country he/she resides without let or hindrance.”

Okoye said the sudden surge was an affirmation of the increasing confidence Nigerians have in INEC electoral process and that the commission would continue to ensure that the confidence was sustained.