Reps want INEC to extend Continuous Voter Registration

The House of Representatives has appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission to extend by one week the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration.
INEC had extended by two days the Continuous Voter Registration in Taraba, Gombe, Zamfara, Kebbi, Benue, Kogi, Abia, Enugu, Akwa-Ibom and Bayelsa States.
This resolution followed a motion by Hon. Hassan Saleh (PDP-Benue), which was unanimously adopted.
Saleh, who led the debate, said 650 polling units in Benue State recorded zero voter registration and disenfranchised about 700,000 potential voters.
He said that eligible voters who registered in 2010 could not find their names in the new register and could not get the temporary or permanent voter card.
He said: “Over half of the polling units in my constituency were affected as my constituents could not find their names.
“They were asked to come for re-registration from May 28 to June 1.”
Saleh added that the two days were insufficient for such an important exercise.
He said that aside the insufficient time for the exercise, the machines deployed were not functioning as expected as the staff could not operate them.
In his contribution, Hon. Micah Umoh (PDP-Akwa Ibom), who supported the extension, said that constant breakdown of the machines made voters to stay away from the centres.
Hon. Nkem Abonta and Hon. Nnenna Ukeje (PDP-Abia) said that most eligible voters were not registered in Abia State during the exercise.
Ukeje said if the exercise ended this way, many eligible voters would be disenfranchised for no fault of theirs.
Hon. Stella Dorgu (PDP-Bayelsa) said the machines deployed for the exercise were not reliable.
The Chairman, Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon. Jerry Manwe (PDP-Taraba), attributed the shortcomings to insufficient fund for the commission to procure data capturing machines.
Manwe said the committee would interface with the commission to find a solution to the problem.
The Deputy Speaker, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, who presided, advised the committee to discuss with the commission to ensure that no eligible voter was left out.