Blog

FG may declare public holidays for voter registration

Posted by SaintOkocha on October 7, 2010 at 1:30am
The Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mrs. Ayoka Adebayo, on Wednesday, hinted that the Federal Government might declare public holidays to enable Nigerians register during the forthcoming voter registration exercise.Adebayo said this in Akure during a stakeholders’ meeting with representatives of the registered political parties, and the various pressure groups in the state.The REC was reacting to a question from the Vice-President (External Affairs) of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Mr. Toye Oladotun, who wished to know the fate of students who will be on holiday during the election.Oladotun had argued that many students in the various higher institutions across the country were registered on their campuses in 2006, but were on forced holidays in their homes during the election in 2007.Adebayo described the plights of the students then as unfortunate but hinted that INEC was considering seeking extension of the 2011 election time table to enable the commission carry out proper and flawless registration.She said the Federal Government would likely grant the INEC request for the declaration of public holidays during the registration exercise to enable students and other Nigerians, register for the poll, near their places of abode.Adebayo said, “INEC is leaving no stone unturned to make sure that nobody is disenfranchised during the election. The Federal Government may declare a public holiday for the registration exercise in line with the thinking of INEC”The REC explained that the meeting was designed to strengthen channels of information and deepen relations between INEC and the stakeholders in the discharge of their respective responsibilities.She said the commission had completed necessary processes to procure the registration requirements and that the old voters register will not be useful for the 2011 election.She also urged all eligible voters to register very close to their various places of abode because there would be strict enforcement of movement restriction on the election days.Adebayo also stated that new polling units would be considered in areas where the commission had discovered that residents of some communities might need to go far to cast their votes.
E-mail me when people leave their comments –
Follow

You need to be a member of 9jabook Africa's Ist Social Network to add comments!

Join 9jabook Africa's Ist Social Network

Latest Blog Posts

Most Popular Blog Posts

Blog Topics by Tags

  • in (506)
  • to (479)
  • of (339)
  • ! (213)
  • as (166)
  • is (157)
  • a (156)

Monthly Archives