By EMMANUEL OLONIRUHA

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says additional registration machines will be deployed to ease the surge at some of the congested Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) centres in the country.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this on Friday in Abuja at a special meeting of the Inter-agency Consultative committee on Election Security (ICCES).

The meeting was called to review the security arrangement for the forthcoming Ekiti governorship election.

Yakubu recalled that for the first time the commission introduced the online pre-registration, as well as physical registration at designated centres.

He said due to the June 30 deadline given for the suspension of the CVR, long queues were building up, especially in Lagos, Kano, the Federal Capital Territory and some states in the South-East.

He disclosed that INEC had anticipated the last minute surge and, therefore, established additional centres and deployed more machines to register eligible citizens.

“Unfortunately, the security situation in many parts of the country has not allowed for full deployment as planned.

“In some states, INEC registration officers were attacked resulting not only in the unfortunate destruction of buildings and loss of equipment, but even worse, the death of an employee.

“This has forced the closure of some of the registration centres.

“However, in view of the surge, additional machines will be deployed to some of the most congested areas to ease the surge.

`Similarly, the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) have been directed to liaise with the security agencies and stakeholders on the possibility of reopening some of the centres earlier closed due to insecurity.

“In doing so, they must always bear in mind the safety of registrants and registration officials.

“Furthermore, the RECs are directed to do more to provide information, increase awareness of the processes and more promptly respond to genuine complaints by citizens,” Yakubu said.

He appreciated the support of partners and critical stakeholders in mobilising citizens to register.

The chairman said that INEC looked forward to such partnership to encourage registered voters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and for increased voter turnout on Election Day.

On Ekiti governorship election, Yakubu said that with only 15 days to the governorship election, all the major activities had been successfully undertaken.

He said that the commission already had meetings with its staff, security agencies and traditional leaders to solicit their support for peaceful elections.

“We also observed the ongoing training of ad hoc staff and the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for mock accreditation of voters in some polling units across the three senatorial districts of the state.

“We will again return to Ekiti State shortly to meet with the stakeholders and for the signing of the Peace Accord by political parties and candidates under the auspices of the National Peace Committee.

“As the commission is getting ready for the Ekiti State governorship election, we have also gone far with similar preparations for the Osun State Governorship election holding next month, Saturday, July 16.

“At the same time, the commission continues with preparations for the 2023 General Elections,” Yakubu said.

In his remarks, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (Rtd.), directed all security agencies to be fully prepared to deal with any act capable of undermining the successful conduct of Ekiti and other elections.

The NSA, who is also the co-chairman of ICCES, represented by Mr Sanusi Galadima, expressed optimism that Ekiti election would be peaceful going by the preparations of security agencies.

“The NSA said political activities were now going on to round off primary elections towards the 2023 elections.

“It is obviously expected that party campaigns will commence in earnest immediately after the party primary elections.

“The NSA, therefore, urged all members to be fully prepared to ensure that acts capable of undermining the smooth conduct of elections are forestalled, he said.

Monguno also assured all security agencies, ICCES members and others to be involved in Ekiti and subsequent election in Osun State, saying they have nothing to fear.

“The Federal Government is fully in their support and all other logistics and other issues concerning the election will be provided.

“At the end of the day, he prayed to Almighty God that the election will be peacefully conducted, devoid of any wrongful deed,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that INEC on Friday released “Regulations and guidelines for the Conduct of Elections, 2022” to be used for the conduct of elections in the country. (NAN)

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