By Onwukwe Ezeru, Abia
A group, Coalition of INEC Accredited Observers Groups for the Continuous Voters Registration 2017, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the voters’ registration down to electoral wards for grassroots’ participation during the 2019 general elections.
In Umuahia, the Abia State capital, the group’s Secretary, Kalu O. Victor, said that the group also condemned the use of incidence form under the guise of faulty card reader during elections.
It added that it was an instrument for electoral fraud even as it called for the upgrading of the card readers so that it could be effective.
The group however recommended that the computer set for the exercise should be well served and trained ICT staff readily available for rapid response in the event of breakdown as this had caused problem in the past.
It noted that there were reported cases of extortion of money from registrants by INEC registration officers and security personnel in Aba North, Ohafia, Umuahia South local government areas and warned that such practice should stop and such defaulters should be disciplined accordingly.
To avoid negative reportage and misconception, the group appealed to INEC to instruct its electoral officers and staff to avail the public particularly accredited civil society observer groups and journalists of information on the conduct of the exercise regularly especially the daily registration and activities. It also advised INEC to remain upright transparent and fair in its dealing preparatory for 2019 general elections especially that there was rumour that INEC already has compromised with bias with an intention to under register the state, arguing that it is a fact as it has refused to improve on the administrative shortfalls and challenges facing the CVR exercise on breakdown of registration machines.