INEC''s PVC REGISTRATION EXERCISE: ADHOC STAFF RECHRISTENS IT AS "PVC EXTORTION EXERCISE"

The extended two weeks nationwide voters' registration exercise conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in December 2014 was commended by the government to be a blameless exercise but the exercise did not see its closing stages without several forms of complaints by the masses.

There exist about 170 million Nigerians and about 65% of the population are in a time of life where they have the right to vote yet such an opportunity put forward by the masses own ruling government have been unseemly utilized and monetized by the ADHOC staff trained and believed to represent the INEC on such a historical exercise that the entire nation hopes on to choose the next torchbearer of their beloved country.

The ADHOC staffs (names withheld) deployed to DR. Lucas Memorial High School and Johnson Street (PU:24/04/04/004) in Kirikiri town were secretly caught on video publicly asking for and collecting cash from those who came perform their civic voting responsibility while others in other centers were busy selling forms and cold laminate. The entire items, equipment's and machines used for the nationwide registration were provided under a special electoral budget worth over NGN1BN issued by the FG for a smooth, effective and complete public registration.

Those who refused to pay became sheer enemies of the ADHOC personal progress. Some, however, who didn't have cash brought gifts items like food, bread, beverages and water before they could be registered. Others who couldn't afford to pay or offer gifts were made to wait endlessly and tirelessly until their turn and if registered, forced to collect their Temporary Voters Card (TVC) without being laminated.

This act resulted in an uproar among Kirikiri town residents and the entire OLCDA when the issue of payment before registration became unbearable.

However, many didn't register because of the attitude and unpatriotic behaviors' of the INEC's ADHOC staff. Everyone knows that 'NO REGISTRATION, NO VOTERS CARD, NO VOTERS CARD NO VOTING'. The number of registered people from OLDCA WARD D reduced drastically.

“INEC did not provide the forms for us, we used our own money to buy the cold laminate and print the forms” One of the ADHOC staff explained

“Na play we come play for here, no be where man dey work e dey chop?” another

ADHOC staff lamented.

“I did not ask anyone to sell any form or items used for this exercise” the INEC Supervising officer Mr. Olusola in charge of registration centers in Kirikiri town disclosed to Kirikiri News when asked why his staffs are selling form, cold laminate and collecting cash from the masses.

Projected populations of about 38580 people dwell in Kirikiri town out of which 85% are resident, 12.5% are workers/business men/women/owners and 1.5% are either tourists, visitors or casual observers.

Out of the 85% whom are residents in Kirikiri town, 45% are up to the voting age. Circumstances such as inter-state/country education, unwillingness to vote or no interest in politics, illiteracy, lack of information, busy schedule and others reduced the percentage of those who are supposed to participate in the voting exercise come February 14/28 and other polls to 35%.

Kirikiri News gathered that INEC officers deployed to Amuwo Odofin and redeployed to Oriade LCDA only accomplished registration of about 22% of the residents out of 35% which is disadvantageous in the choosing of a leader.

Aside from a falsified registration figure, the voting right of the masses have been tampered with, disenfranchisement is involved and The INEC's ADHOC staff are blameworthy and have an initial share of any form of electoral offences that INEC would receive if any rat is smelt during the general elections.