By Seyi Babalola
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released additional 209 machines to Lagos, Kano and the five South Eastern States where the pressure for registration has been most acute.
INEC in a statement issued on Friday said the machines which would be released to the affected states on Tuesday, will help address the unprecedented and overwhelming surge in the number of citizens that wish to register as voters and the challenges they face across the country.
This was on the heels of an urgent meeting held with all the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on Thursday, where the situation was reviewed across the states of the country so that eligible Nigerians who wish to register would be able to do so.
“The necessity to urgently deploy more voter enrolment machines to ease the congestion at the registration centres was identified as a priority,” the statement added.
The Commission declared that it will monitor the situation over the next few days and thereafter meet to review the progress of the exercise, even as it assured that every step will be taken and all options explored to ensure that eligible Nigerians are given the opportunity to register as voters.
The Commission appeals for patience and understanding of all citizens adding 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 without let or hindrance.
The sudden surge is an affirmation of the increasing confidence Nigerians have in our electoral process. The Commission will continue to ensure that this confidence is sustained.