Shortage of manpower, machines delay voter registration in Anambra

The on-going voter registration exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anambra State has suffered setback following shortage of manpower and machines in most registration centres across the state.

The state governor, Willie Obiano, had last week declared yesterday and today as work-free day to enable public servants and others, who do not have voters card in the state, to use the opportunity and register.

During the first day of break, thousands of people were seen complaining at various local government headquarters, which were the only places authorized for the exercise.

When our correspondent visited Awka South Local Government secretariat, where the INEC local government office was situated, only one Data Capturing Machine and few INEC staff were seen attending to the over 2000 people that turned up for the exercise.

Our correspondent gathered that only about 30 persons had been registered there as at press time, with many expressing reservations as to why the state government did not make a special arrangement with INEC to deploy more hands and machines before declaring the public holiday.

Reacting, the INEC spokesperson in the state, Frank Egbo, said the number of machines and staff was a policy issue that could only be handled at the headquarters.

“It is a nationwide exercise and no state is given a preferential treatment. Besides, this is supposed to be a mop-up exercise meant for those that turned 18 after the last exercise,” he said.