May 9, 2010
Democratic Peoples’ Alliance (DPA) has expressed fears that confusion might mar the ongoing voters’ registration exercise being conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and subsequently endanger the 2011 polls in Lagos.
The party in a statement by its Director of Publicity, Felix Oboagwina, reported that the Commission had failed to mobilise people for the exercise and registration officers in some local governments appeared uncertain about exact requirements from citizens that want their names included in the voters’ list.
It said DPA members reported that in some cases INEC officials demanded money before registration and some carried out the exercise secretly sometimes at the premises of Baales (quarter or village heads) who were known loyalties of a particular party.
“It has been difficult to identify culpable staff because many of them do not display identity tags,” DPA complained.
The statement quoted DPA members as reporting secret registrations happening in places like Epe, Idiotun and Siriwon in Ibeju-Lekki. In Siriwon, violence broke out when members of a party attacked INEC officials after they got wind of secret and biased registration.
According to the party, “Some DPA members have reported to our party’s Central Working Committee that they are being subjected to different instructions in different local governments, giving the impression that INEC has failed to streamline instructions and training of crucial staff.”
The exercise updates the register to include would-be voters who have changed residence since their initial registration and those who have clocked age 18 since the last exercise.
A woman forced to change residence after her home fell to government’s demolition bulldozers in Ijesha, Mushin Local Government was told at her new place in Shomolu-Bariga that she must obtain a letter from the INEC office in her former council. However, when she subsequently asked for the letter at Mushin, officials told her they were unaware of such a requirement and she should give them time to make enquiries at the Lagos State headquarters.
Noting that the Commission’s offices contained a massive number of unclaimed permanent plastic voters’ cards, DPA said INEC had failed to help the situation through adequate public enlightenment and publicity to let people know how, when and where to claim the long-expected cards.
DPA pointed out that political parties had taken the initiative to mobilise the public for the registration exercise but that the agency saddled with the exercise must lead the way.
“Unfortunately, apart from active politicians who know they have a stake in voters’ registration, the average citizen is grossly ignorant that anything is going on,” DPA complained.
Warning that the sanctity of the voters’ lists rested on the Commission’s field officers, DPA urged INEC to embark on massive enlightenment and publicity to draw the public into the exercise.
DPA expressed fears that the Commission was throwing away a priceless chance to conduct a hitch-free 2011 polls beginning with the ongoing voters’ registration.
The party reiterated its earlier stand that: “Every politician knows that rigging starts from voters’ registration. So INEC must tie up all loose ends and ensure that this registration exercise is as fraud-proof as possible.”
Felix Oboagwina
Director of Publicity, Lagos DPA
08033327355
The party in a statement by its Director of Publicity, Felix Oboagwina, reported that the Commission had failed to mobilise people for the exercise and registration officers in some local governments appeared uncertain about exact requirements from citizens that want their names included in the voters’ list.
It said DPA members reported that in some cases INEC officials demanded money before registration and some carried out the exercise secretly sometimes at the premises of Baales (quarter or village heads) who were known loyalties of a particular party.
“It has been difficult to identify culpable staff because many of them do not display identity tags,” DPA complained.
The statement quoted DPA members as reporting secret registrations happening in places like Epe, Idiotun and Siriwon in Ibeju-Lekki. In Siriwon, violence broke out when members of a party attacked INEC officials after they got wind of secret and biased registration.
According to the party, “Some DPA members have reported to our party’s Central Working Committee that they are being subjected to different instructions in different local governments, giving the impression that INEC has failed to streamline instructions and training of crucial staff.”
The exercise updates the register to include would-be voters who have changed residence since their initial registration and those who have clocked age 18 since the last exercise.
A woman forced to change residence after her home fell to government’s demolition bulldozers in Ijesha, Mushin Local Government was told at her new place in Shomolu-Bariga that she must obtain a letter from the INEC office in her former council. However, when she subsequently asked for the letter at Mushin, officials told her they were unaware of such a requirement and she should give them time to make enquiries at the Lagos State headquarters.
Noting that the Commission’s offices contained a massive number of unclaimed permanent plastic voters’ cards, DPA said INEC had failed to help the situation through adequate public enlightenment and publicity to let people know how, when and where to claim the long-expected cards.
DPA pointed out that political parties had taken the initiative to mobilise the public for the registration exercise but that the agency saddled with the exercise must lead the way.
“Unfortunately, apart from active politicians who know they have a stake in voters’ registration, the average citizen is grossly ignorant that anything is going on,” DPA complained.
Warning that the sanctity of the voters’ lists rested on the Commission’s field officers, DPA urged INEC to embark on massive enlightenment and publicity to draw the public into the exercise.
DPA expressed fears that the Commission was throwing away a priceless chance to conduct a hitch-free 2011 polls beginning with the ongoing voters’ registration.
The party reiterated its earlier stand that: “Every politician knows that rigging starts from voters’ registration. So INEC must tie up all loose ends and ensure that this registration exercise is as fraud-proof as possible.”
Felix Oboagwina
Director of Publicity, Lagos DPA
08033327355
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