INDEPENDENT National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Tuesday, insisted that voters without permanent voter card will not be allowed to vote in the 2015 general election.
It stated that any double registration would be detected by the system already installed by the commission, while affected registrant would automatically be disqualified.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Godwin Kwanga disclosed this in Abuja, at a stakeholders’ meeting on distribution of permanent voter cards and continuous voters’ registration in the FCT.
He maintained that conducting free and fair elections remained the responsibility of all citizens.
The Federal Capital Territory INEC boss argued that if future elections in the country were not credible, it was the failure of all stakeholders.
He disclosed that the forthcoming continuous voters’ registration would take care of those who registered in 2011 but could not find their names on the displayed voters’ register at the polling units, adding that the commission would not allow collection of cards by proxies.
Speaking at the event, the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) chairman, Micah Jibah and other stakeholders called for extension of the days allotted for the exercise.
Jibah said: “We are not competing with Bayelsa and Benue states, so I am supporting that three days are not enough. I doubt if INEC officials would be able to reach remotest areas in Abuja within the stipulated time.”
Responding, the REC said: “If you give six months for this exercise, I can assure you that you will never register 100 per cent. We hope when the exercise starts, you will mobilise people to come and register. This exercise has also been conducted in states bigger than FCT and it was conducted within three days.
“It is not for me to say that because you have said it, I will say we will extend the date because there is budget for this thing.
“What INEC did is, considering its budget, the commission thought it can conduct the exercise in three days. I think the three days for the exercise is well thought of.
“Oyo State is also going to take three days, yet its voters and territorial size is three times more.
“So let us do the best we can within three days. If we cannot to finish within the three days, at the end of the day, we can then make case and I think it will be guaranteed.”
Meanwhile, The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Tuesday, said additional 30,000 polling units will be created across the country ahead of the 2015 general election.
The development will bring the total number of polling units in the country, to 150,000, as the country currently has 120,000 units.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ondo State, Mr Akin Orebiyi, said this in Akure, the state capital, while addressing a stakeholders’ forum organised by the commission, on the forthcoming distribution of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and the continuous voters’ registration exercise.
According to him, the need for the new polling units arose as a result of increase in the population of the country.
Orebiyi said expansion in the geographical areas occupied by people, led to decision to create more polling units, saying this would further bring the voting centres nearer to the electorate.
He stated that a committee had already been put in place at the national level for the exercise, which he said, would be completed before the commencement of the 2015 general election.
He stated that the creation of the new polling units would ensure that not more than 300 voters were accommodated in voting centres.
Orebiyi explained that the distribution of PVC would take place in Ondo State between August 15 and 17, while the continuous registration would come up between August 20 and 25.
He said the commission had put necessary machinery in motion to ensure a hitch-free exercise in the state.