Voters' Registration: INEC Begins Mop-Up Exercise
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to undertake a mop-up exercise in areas where the on-going voter registration exercise could not commence early due to communal conflicts, over-population, technical or logistical challenges. The mop up voter registration, according to as statement issued by INEC's Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Emmanuel Umenger will be from Sunday, February 6 to Monday, February 7, 2011.
He said, 'In its determination to ensure that all eligible Nigerians who turn up for registration are registered.'
The affected areas identified for the purpose of the mop-up exercise are Uyo in Akwa Ibom State , Ganjuwa, Kirfi, Shira, Bogoro, and Tafawa Balewa Local Government Areas of Bauchi State; some wards in Gubio, Mafa, Jere, Konduga, Kukawa, Mobbar and Monguno Local Government Areas of Borno State; Katsina Ala , Gwer East and Vandeikya LGAs of Benue State are also affected. The statement added that Warri North, Warri South and Warri South-West LGAs of Delta State; Ijero and Ekiti-East LGA of Ekiti State; Nsukka, Uzo Uwani and parts of Enugu East, Enugu North and Enugu South as well as Udi LGAs of Enugu State would benefit from the extension.
Others are, FCT; Sabon Tasha, Rigasa, Afaka, Kakuri, Rigachikun LGAs of Kaduna State; two registration areas each in Birnin Kebbi, Yauri, Gwandu and three others each in Danko-Wasaku and Suru in Kebbi State; Karu, New Karu,Mararaba,Masaka, Aso Fada and Adudu ward in Obi LGA of Nasarawa State
In Zamfara State, the mop -up exercise will, take place in Gusau Ward 03, Galadima 01, Dado 04, Maiyara 05, Tudun Wada 09 and Tsafe 08 wards while in Kogi State, it will take place in some areas in Bassa and Adavi LGAs. In Ogun State , Obafemi Owode, Ifo and Ado Ode LGAs will benefit from the exercise.
The statement adds that 'The Commission however commends and appreciates the enthusiasm with which eligible Nigerians have turned out en-masse to be registered in readiness for the April ,2011 General Elections and wishes to advise all those eligible registrants who are yet to register to take advantage of the mop-up exercise and get registered.
INEC further reminded Nigerians that it is a crime to register more than once. Any such attempt will be discovered and culprits prosecuted.
Meanwhile, INEC in Delta state has announced the extension of the ongoing voters' registration exercise in Warri North, Warri South and Warri South-West local government areas up till Monday, February 7. In a press release made available to Huhuonline.com in Asaba, INEC's Public Affairs Officer in Delta, Mr. Livy Inuigwe said the measure was to compensate the lateness of commencement of the registration exercise in the Warri Federal Constituency.
Earlier, the people of Warri North local government area, mostly of Itsekiri extraction had on Friday protested to INEC office at Koko, calling for an eight-days extension of the exercise.