Nigerian Newsday

By Rayyanu Bala & Anthony Adgidzi, Lafia

As voters registration exercise entered its second week, there are strong indications that in Nasarawa State, thousands of people might not get registered before the expiration of the exercise in December 14, 2006.

Nigerian Newsday investigation gathered that out of the more than 300 direct data captured computer machines needed for the conduct of the exercise in the state, only about 15 were available in the state as at the time of filing this report.

Nigerian Newsday found that shortage of computers for the registration was seriously affecting the conduct of the exercise as only about 2,000 people were so far registered in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

It was also gathered that out of the 12 direct data photograph machines that were allocated to the state by INEC national headquarters, only two were stationed in Lafia, two in Karu while the other local government councils in the state got one each.

Other factors which our investigation further identified as militating against the smooth conduct of the exercise in the state included, shortage of manpower, lack of stable electricity supply to re-charge batteries of the machines as well as the alleged non-commitment of INEC staff to the exercise.

When contacted, however, the resident electoral commissioner in the state, Senator Iliya Audu, denied that the commission has no adequate direct data photograph machines for the conduct of the exercise in the state.

While appealing to the people of the state not to entertain fear about the ability of the INEC in the state to successfully conduct the registration exercise, Senator Audu gave an assurance that the exercise in the state would be a huge success.

He said that all ad-hoc members of staff of the INEC were in the field working, maintaining that 40 days given by the INEC for the exercise would be utilized adequately to ensure that every eligible adult was registered within the period.

Senator Audu, who admitted that some registration units in the state were thickly populated, noted that the claims and objections by people to the conduct of the exercise would assist the commission in producing a comprehensive list of voters in the state.