From: Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin Kebbi

The Kebbi State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that it would consider genuine Nigerians living in various Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the state during the Continues Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

Acting Electoral Commissioner in the state and Administrative Secretary of the Commission, Alhaji Bello Magaji Isah, who confirmed this during interview with journalists, on Wednesday, in Birni- Kebbi to kick-off the CVR exercise across the 21 Local Government offices of the Commission said such displaced persons must be identified with national means of identification.

According to him, “Any person in IDPs camps must provide his or her means of identification such as national identity cards or temporary voter card. In a situation where they can’t, especially those people displaced by insurgents, because their personal properties might have been destroyed or lost in transition, district head must confirmed the identity of such fellow before registration.”.

Speaking of it readiness to ensure successful exercise in the state, Isah said: ” Part of the arrangement so far accomplished is the recruitment and training of about 150 mainly Staff of the Commission, deployment of equipment and materials to LGAs, purging and upgrading of Direct Data Capture(DDC) Machines.

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” And indeed we continue to engage stakeholders such as Security Agencies, Registered Political Parties, Youth/Women empowerment Groups, NGOs, Traditional and Religious Leaders with a view to bringing all stakeholders on board in the process, modalities as well as the level of preparedness towards pursuing this course”.

He disclosed that the Commission had held warned it Staff across the local government offices not registered non Nigerians stressing that ” only  citizens of Nigerians, who are above 18 years, originated from the local government covered by the Registration Area Centre should be consider.

“Not subject to any legal incapacitation to vote in Nigeria. Must be physically present, no proxy registration and have to provide proof  if required to do so,of age, nationality and identity”.

He appealed to all citizens to assist the Commission in ensuring that the exercise was successful in the state.