VOTER REGISTRATION: MIMIKO EXPRESSES WORRY OVER TECHNICAL PROBLEMS

BY DAYO JOHNSON
FOLLOWING hitches noticed in the on-going registration exercise, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, yesterday, expressed worry over the technical problems that had marred the speedy conduct of the exercise. He  urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to brace up and correct all the hitches being experienced by the people.

Dr Mimiko, said if the hitches were not addressed,  that there was a possibility of  the extension of the exercise

This came on the heels of alarm raised by the Labour Party, LP, chairman in the state, Dr Olaiya Oni, over alleged parallel registration being done by the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Dr.  Oni had drawn the attention of the chairman of  INEC, Prof Attahiru Jega, saying  that the exercise was preparatory to plans by the PDP to rig the general elections like it did in 2007, when it falsified the voters register.

'The PDP in its parallel registration even asked such questions from prospective voters, as 'party affiliation, telephone number. What will the PDP do with voters telephone numbers and party affiliation? Is it to intimidate or coarse?' he had said.

But in a swift reaction, the PDP Director of Publicity, Mr Ayo Fadaka denied the allegation. He dared the ruling party to substantiate it.

LP crying wolf where none exist-PDP
Fadaka said the LP was crying wolf where none exist and that the PDP had accused the LP of trying to use the just concluded residency card project for rigging in the coming elections. Meanwhile, the Governor, who visited six registration centres including, Lasco, Ijo Mimo Oluwa High School, Coop House, Aule, CAC Adu Memorial High School and Testing Ground, however, commended the people for their enthusiasm  despite the frustration being encountered.

According to him, 'the people of the state, who are  enthusiastic to register were being discouraged by some technical challenges on the part of INEC.

'The performance is less than satisfactory. The pace of registration is disturbing. There are basically some technical errors in some of the machines. Some of these problems are being rectified but my worry is that I don't know how many people will be able to register within this time frame and with these technical challenges that our people are facing in almost every polling unit, one is worried,' he added.