The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has been tasked to make more equipment and staff available for the 2023 general elections.
Although the voter registration exercise ended on Sunday, the 31st of July, stakeholders claim INEC was grossly under-staffed and its headquarters over-run with work, affecting the conduct of the exercise.
The electoral body has now been asked to extend the registration date to enable many Nigerians participate.
While arguing that the large number of people still eager to register for their PVCs indicates that many do not want to be disenfranchised, Ogala Osoka, the founder, Akurulo Youth Foundation, said Nigerians were ready to do the right thing if the right leadership is in place.
Osoka was speaking at a Sunday concert organised by the Akurulo Youth Foundation, in partnership with the Abia State Government to encourage youths to beat the INEC deadline.
Speaking early Monday morning after the concert, Osoka said “Our idea is to get the Abia youths to register to enable them meet the INEC deadline and for INEC to step up the registration of the young people.
“INEC has to extend the registration to enable all Nigerians register and must treat it as critical for more people to register.
While expressing disappointment that people wait till the last minute to do what is required of them, he said the commission must now make stronger efforts to accommodate everybody.
“INEC is gross under-staffed and its headquarters over-run with work, hence the need to do more in making the equipment available at the next elections”, he advised.