11th January, 2011
At least, 240, 000 adhoc staff have been mobilised by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to carry out the nationwide voters registration exercise which kicks off nationwide on Saturday.
INECâ€
Ogunmola said also that the commission would carry out the April polls in 8,465 polling units across Lagos State.
“The polling units have been verified and harmonised, and can now be viewed on Google maps by every Nigerian,†adding that the commission has approved over 8465 DDC machines.
“INEC has developed a software that is owned by the commission. This software will enhance and improve the accuracy and convenience with which the register can be revised, updated and tackle the lingering challenges that have questioned our votersâ€
“The commission will also construct a situation report room so that stakeholders can inform the commission about voterâ€
“The registration of voters form the bedrock of any credible election, without a credible votersâ€
Meanwhile, the Chairman, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega has lamented that Nigerian politicians still see politics as a do-or-die affair, saying that there was the need for attitudinal change.
Jega, who spoke on a special edition of Democratic Licence, a television programme monitored in Lagos State on Monday, said that the re-run governorship election in Delta State was an eye opener.
According to Jega, politicians engaged the services of youths to snatch ballot boxes and attack INECâ€
“Things are changing, there must be serious efforts to prevent rigging at he coming polls. We will make sure we prosecute offenders. We have to ensure the integrity of the electoral process and the law has provided INEC such backing,†he added.
Jega stated that INEC has inaugurated inter-agency security committee to co-ordinate security as well as allow paramilitary personnel to complement the efforts of the police in curbing election violence.
“Local stakeholders should contribute to efforts to provide security because they know these armed youth gangs. Politicians need to imbibe the right mindset in participating in politics.
“Politicians need to get their act right; we cannot talk about democracy without imbibing the tenets of democracy. When push comes to shove, INEC will insist that the law is followed to the letter,†he said.
The INEC boss disclosed that out of the 132, 000 Direct Data Capture, DDC machines the commission ordered, 110, 000 of the machines had arrived and would be used for the voters registration exercise, adding that the remaining machines would soon arrive.
Jega admitted that there were challenges ahead of the votersâ€
He also defended the closure of schools for the exercise, saying it was to prevent children from being exposed to danger, adding that classrooms would be used to store the DDC machines.
Jega was sure that the exercise would be smooth, saying that “we can register every Nigerian of voting age within two weeks,†while urging Nigerians to turn out en-masse for the exercise.
— Kazeem Ugbodaga