From Yahaya Wakili, Damaturu
The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) in Yobe state has blamed the low turnout of registered voters on the insecurity situation in the state as it registered 27,768 voters in 17 local government areas of the state since the commencement of the exercise in April this year.
Barrister Waziri A. Zannah, the INEC administrative secretary in the state made this disclosure while chatting with journalists in his office.
According to him, there are 17 registration centres in the state of which 14 are located in the local government area INEC offices, while the three centres located in Gujba, Gulani and Yunusari local government areas were relocated to safer places owing to insecurity in the state.
“In Gujba local government area, the registration centre was relocated to the local government secretariat, the one of Gulani was also relocated to the local government secretariat while in Yunusari local government area, the centre was relocated to Mozogun primary school.”
Barrister Waziri said the commission has received series of complaints with regards to the stationing of the registration centres which resulted in overcrowding, adding that in response to this complaints, the commission made provision for additional 6 registration centres in the state.
He said the centres are Umar Suleman primary school in Bade local government area, Government Day Secondary School Damaturu, Phase 1 in Damaturu local government, Kara Primary School in Potiskum, Central Primary School Damagum in Fune local government, Ngilewa Primary School in Nguru local government and Dispensary in Jakusko local government area.
According to him, the continues voters registration is meant for only those who have attained the registrable age of 18 years and those who for some reasons could not register in the previous exercise.
Barrister Zannah called on the public to note the changes and additional centres, adding that those whose names appear in the INEC’s electronic voters register but lost their cards or have mutilated or defaced PVC should not register again.
“All that they need do is to meet the registration officials at the centres for guidance on the steps they need to take to make corrections.”