Inadequate and late arrival of machines and personnel are hindering the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise which commenced in Enugu State on Wednesday, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
NAN correspondents, who monitored the exercise in the state, report that many eligible voters who trooped out as early as 7.00 am were stranded due to the situation.
NAN reports that at St Theresa Catholic Church, Housing Estate Primary School and Nike Grammar School, all in Abakpa Nike, neither the INEC personnel nor materials were on ground as at 10.00 a.m.
The people, however, started writing their names on sheets of paper, while awaiting the arrival of materials.
When the materials eventually arrived around 11.30 am at St Theresa’s Church, it was discovered that the only machine, brought for about 10 polling units in the ward, was faulty.
Some eligible voters told NAN that they were frustrated by the attitude of the INEC officials.
Agnes Iheme, a civil servant, expressed disappointment at the conduct of the exercise.
“After all the assurance INEC gave to us that the exercise will be hitch free, the reverse is the case.
“I was here since 8.30 am for the registration, but the INEC officials are nowhere to be found.
“Thank God for the state public holiday. If not, we would not have been able to wait this long,’’ Iheme said.
Another eligible voter, Mr John Nnamani said that INEC was not ready for the exercise with the kind of poor arrangement on ground.
“In spite of all the noise they made about the exercise, there is nothing to show for it. Is this what we will see in 2015?’’ he questioned.
Nnamani said that if the situation continued this way, one month will not be enough to conduct the exercise in the state.
“How can they keep us here since 8.00 a.m; it does not speak well of them,” he said.
It was also a similar story at Okpara Square in Independence Layout, Achara Layout and Obiagu as materials arrived very late.
When contacted on phone, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Dr Lawrence Azubuike, said the commission was making efforts to address the problems.
“You know that today is the first day and the personnel are trying to get used to the machines.
“I am assuring you that by tomorrow, there will be an improvement,’’ he said.
NAN reports that the CVR, which commenced May 28, will end on June 1, 2014.
