Professor Attahiru Jega, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has disclosed that the commission has concluded arrangement to begin voter registration exercise from May this year.
Speaking on Wednesday at a meeting between the commission and State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIEC), organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Jega said Nigerians can be rest assured that the elections would be world-class because of the magnitude of INEC’s preparations. He also restated his commission’s commitment to making the 2015 general elections the best and most successful in the history of the country.
Jega said at the conference — which was attended by all INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners in the 36 states and Abuja, commissioners from INEC headquarters and top management staff, SIEC chairmen and other top management staff — that his commission has identified the loopholes in the past election and they have been taken care of.
“We have taken steps to create more polling units to decongest large existing units in other to ensure free, fair and credible elections”, he said.
Jega disclosed that the commission has concluded arrangements to begin voter registration exercise from next month.
“The continuous registration exercise is to ensure that those who turned 18 years between 2011 and now are registered before the 2015 general elections”, Jega explained.
“Also those whoe were 18 and above but were unable to register for one reason or the other will be given opportunity to register”.
Applauding UNDP for organising the conference, Jega noted that its timeliness would boost the commission’s morale to deliver free, fair, peaceful and credible elections in the future.
He beckoned on all SIEC to work hand-in-hand with INEC, calling for absolute independence for State Electoral Commissions to ensure credible elections at the grass root level.
He pointed out that, there cannot be credible polls at national level if the foundation is faulty.
