Governor, Akeredolu call for extension of voters’ registration

 

•Gov. Mimiko

Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the continuous voters’ registration to enable willing and eligible voters exercise their franchise.

The continuous voters’ registration ended yesterday in Ondo.

Mimiko, who spoke yesterday when he inspected the exercise in some wards in Ondo, noted that the number of enthusiastic eligible voters might not be captured within the five days stipulated for the exercise. The five days elapsed yesterday.

Mimiko was accompanied by the lawmaker representing Ondo East/West in the House of Representatives, Joseph Akinlaja.

He said if INEC wanted to fulfill its ultimate aim of allowing every eligible Nigerian to exercise his or her franchise, the electoral body must extend the time of the exercise.

“You can see that today, being the last day of the exercise, the people are still waiting. Everywhere I have been to, it’s the same story of many young men and women waiting to register.”

“There is no question about the fact that there are many of those who are willing to get registered that will not be accommodated within this time frame. So we will continue to plead with INEC to appreciate the fact that extension is very essential. The ultimate aim of INEC is to ensure that every wiling Nigerian be given the opportunity,” he said.

Former president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Rotimi Akerodulu has also appealed to INEC to extend the ongoing Continuous Voters’ Registration to ensure that some people are not disenfranchised.

Akeredolu, who made the appeal in a statement yesterday by Aketi Media Group, said he had received many complaints about the exercise, adding that a number of technical itches had been reported since it began five days ago.