February 16, 2018

The improved security situation in the North-East sub-region, is having a positive impact on the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) in the states within the area, a survey by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), has indicated.

Voters, registration officials and other stakeholders interviewed said the number of people seeking to be registered had increased of recent, attributing this development to improved security, as well as the tendency for Nigerians to do the needful during late hours of any exercise.

Mr Tijjanni Mustapha, Head of Electoral Operations, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Borno, said so far, 230, 000 eligible voters had been registered in 48 designated centres in the 27 local government areas of the state.

He said registration was being conducted at the council headquarters and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps, adding that the improved security situation had a positive impact on the exercise.

“We have in place, effective screening and security arrangement to ensure that those registered met the basic constitutional requirements,” he said.

Mustapha noted that lack of access to hard-to-reach communities was one of the challenges facing the exercise, adding that though the security situation had improved, INEC officials needed the support of the Nigerian Air Force to access some communities in Gwoza, Dikwa and Kala-Balge Local Government Areas.

He said the commission was working in collaboration with political, community and religious leaders to mobilize people.

Mr Yahya Imam, Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA) in the state, said the agency had embarked on mobilization of the people, but lamented that there were still signs of apathy by some people.

“It is good to register while the exercise is in progress, rather than wait till the rush hours to obtain the PVC,” he advised.

Mr Ahmed Dikwa, a stalwart of the Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), called on youth and women to register, to enable them exercise their civic rights.

In Adamawa, Mr Kassim Gaidam, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state said no fewer than 178, 137 eligible voters had so far been registered, adding that turnout of people for the exercise was impressive.

He said the mass turnout had been creating crowd in major registration centres, particularly in the state capital, adding that additional Direct Data Machines had to be brought to address the challenge.

Speaking to NAN, some of the people seen on queue trying to register, complained of the slow process.

“The whole thing is very slow; this is my fifth time of coming here, trying to register,” lamented Miss Ruth Yohanna who recently attained the age of 18.

Another potential voter, Ishaqu Munkaila, also lamented the slow process and called for measures to fast-track the exercise in view of the increase in turnout of people.

Mr Ahmad Abba, the State Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA) said that the agency was not relenting in its awareness campaign to sensitize voters, adding that they had paid advocacy visits to traditional and regions leaders, schools and markets.

An INEC official conducting the registration in one of the centres in Yola who spoke on condition of anonymity, said some people appear at the centre, as early as 5. 30am.

NAN also reports that mosques and churches in Adamawa, had become major mobilization centres, with clerics harping on the need for eligible people in their congregations, to register and obtain their PVC.

Alhaji Umar Ibrahim, REC in Gombe state said INEC had registered no fewer than 70,507 eligible voters in the state, out of which 49,191 were registered last year, and 21,931, captured this year.

According to him, turnout is very encouraging as people are realizing the importance of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC).

“The turnout is very impressive; as you can see, within five weeks in 2018, we were able to register 21, 316,” he said.

He said that the commission currently had 48,384 unclaimed PVCs, and therefore called on people to come forward and check their own.

Ibrahim said as part of the commission’s effort to encourage the collection of the cards, it had started photocopying same for public display.

The REC however complained that some people were finding it difficult coming out to register because of the nature of the terrain in their areas and therefore called on the appropriate authorities to assist.

REC in the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullah, said in a statement made available to NAN that the commission had also approved the movement of some existing centres to settlements with difficult terrain.

Similarly, the Public Relation Officer, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Bauchi office, Mr Shaibu Danjuma, said the agency had been embarking on sensitization campaigns to create awareness.

“Recently, we collaborated with some Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) on educating the teeming youths that have attained the eligible age, to ensure that they register.

“Those that have registered but relocated, we advise them to ensure that they effect all the necessary changes that will enable them vote during elections,” he said.

In separate interviews, Bauchi State Chairmen of Jamatul Nasril Islam(JNI),Alhaji Bala Sani and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Mr Samaila Bulus, said religious leaders in the state had been playing their role in mobilizing people in mosques and churches .