INEC deploys 209 voter enrollment machines to states 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Saturday, said it has deployed additional 209 voter enrollment machines to Lagos and Kano states, including the five southeastern states.

This according to the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, was to ease congestion at the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) centres.

According to him, reports from various registration centres across the country indicated there was an upsurge in the number of people that are interested to register as voters.

He said reports indicated that in some states, the sudden turnout of prospective registrants was overwhelming.

According to him, following this, the commission convened an urgent meeting with all the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on Thursday, to review the situation so that eligible Nigerians who wish to register are able to do so.

He added that the commission took it upon itself to urgently deploy more voter enrollment machines to reduce the congestion at the registration centres.

According to him, the commission has immediately released additional 209 machines deployed mainly to the five South Eastern states, Lagos and Kano where the pressure is most acute.

He added that the commission will monitor the situation over the next few days and thereafter will meet to review the progress of the exercise.

The commission, therefore, appealed for more understanding and patience of all Nigerians as every step would be taken to ensure that eligible Nigerians were given the opportunity to register as voters.

He added that every Nigerian who is 18 years of age and above has the constitutional right to register and vote in any part of the country he/she resides in without hindrance.

He believed that the sudden surge was an affirmation of the increasing confidence Nigerians have in INEC electoral process and that the commission would continue to ensure that the confidence was sustained.