President of the Canada-based Battles Against Corruption in Nigeria (BACN), Mr. Waheed Seriki, has expressed worry that many Nigerians would still be unable to exercise their civic right to vote in 2019 as he says the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) does not provide enough voters registration centres for them to register.
Seriki, who is currently in Nigeria with other Diaspora members to join their Nigeria’s branches in registering to enable them vote in the coming general elections and push to conclusion the fight against legislative rascality in the country, said in a message to The DEFENDER on Monday.
The anti-corruption crusader is billed to meet with the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, before he returns to base in Ontario, Canada preparatory to the February 2019 elections.
He said, “It is very unfortunate that despite the Nigerians’ willingness to register and obtain Permanent Voters Cards, so that they can exercise their voting right come next election, the and inadequacy in arrangement by INEC will frustrate their effort.
“The registration centres provided for voters registration are not adequate and many electorates are very frustrated because they have to be at the registration centres for more than six to eight hours without at times being able to register and get their voters’ cards.
“Some people are even complain, they have to bribe the school security at some registration centre, so that he can put their name on the list for them to be able to register and get their voter’s card.
“Despite the fact that I came all the way from Canada to register for Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) so that I can vote in 2019 election, I’m still unable to register because of the long queue at all the registration centres I visited.
“As a matter of urgency, INEC has to do more to create easy and conducive atmosphere for Nigerians, so that they can take the advantage of the remaining days before the closing of registration for voter’s card to register and be able to vote.
“Nigerians are determined to register to vote in 2019 election because they want to ensure the country will not go back to the 16 years of People Democratic Party disastrous rule,” he said.
