OYO RESIDENTS TROOP OUT FOR VOTERS REGISTRATION EXERCISE

Many residents of  Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, turned out enmasse for the Continuous Voters Registration exercise being organised by INEC.

The residents turned out in large numbers at  most centres visited in Ibadan South-East, Ibadan North West, Oluyole and  Afijio Local Government Areas.

Some stakeholders, however, said there were still some challenges facing the  registration exercise aimed at registering Nigerians ahead of the 2015 general elections.

Chief  Goke Oyetunji, the state  Vice Chairman of  the APC, told NAN that there were  challenges with some malfunctioning machines, generators and finger print equipment.

“  In some local governments like Afijio, Oyo North, Orelope and Iwajowa, there were complaints about the machines, generators and finger prints machines,” he said.

He  called on INEC to  rectify the  problems in order not to  disenfranchise  eligible voters.

Alhaji Abass Bayewu, the Chairman of Ibadan North-East Local Government, urged  INEC to tackle  the challenges  facing the exercise.

He, however, promised to sensitise residents of the area about the need to participate in the registration exercise.

Responding to the complaints, Alhaji Nasir Ayilara, the Resident  Electoral Commissioner in Oyo  State, said that the hitches in some areas were hinged  on the fact  that the exercise had  just began.

“ The exercise is going on as planned by INEC.
“ We  have a centre in Ibadan for example  where about 500 voters registered even on the first day of the registration exercise,” he said.

Ayilara expressed optimism that the exercise would be successful, saying there were enough machines, generators and finger print machines.