IMEC -we wont register voter now

Independent National Electoral Commission has cancelled plans to carry out a fresh voter registration ahead of the October 20 Ondo State governorship election, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr. Akin Orebiyi, said on Wednesday.

Orebiyi said this at a stakeholders’ forum organised by the police and INEC in Akure.

According to him, the decision was taken to avoid the the problems that cropped up at a similar exercise in Edo State last month.

However, he said the electoral body would conduct a nationwide continuous registration after the Ondo election.

Orebiyi said, “The implications of this is that those who did not register during the voter registration exercise last year will still not be able to do so this year.”

He promised that the those registered and eligible to vote in 2011 would exercise their franchise.

Orebiyi dismissed the allegations that a political party with the active connivance of some INEC workers was carrying out illegal voter registration in the state.

He said, “I wish to say here and now that the allegation is not true. It is false and malicious. No voter registration exercise of any kind is being carried out by INEC staff or that involves INEC functionary.

“Besides, nobody including INEC staff, knows that software to access the register in this state.”

Orebiyi said each political party would require over 3,009 agents to monitor activities at various polling units across the state during the election.

But the Secretary of the state chapter of Action Congress of Nigeria, Mr. Adegboyega Adedipe, said his party was prepared to challenge the cancellation in court.

Adedipe argued that INEC had no right to change the rule, saying there was a provision in the electoral law allowing a fresh voter registration

The Deputy Inspector- General of Police in- charge-of G Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Mr. Abdurahman Akano, urged politicians in the state to play the game according to the rules.

He said the use of armed private security arrangements during campaigns would not be allowed.

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police Zone 11, Mr. Orubebe Ebiekimi; the Commander, 32 Artilery Brigade, Akure, Brig.Gen. Mohammed Dan Ali; and the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Danladi Mshebwala also attended the meeting.

Others are heads of other military and para-military agencies in the state, representatives of other political parties and non-governmental, organisations among others.