Stakeholders in Burutu local government area of Delta State have expressed displeasure towards the slow pace of voters registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission in the Council area.
Arising from an emergency meeting on Tuesday in Burutu, the local government headquarters, the stakeholders lamented that a very large number of eligible voters are yet to be registered.
Speaking to Daily Report Nigeria after the meeting, Chief Godspower Akiefa cited the difficulty in conveying people across to the local government headquarters, where the only registration center is situated as the cause of the slow pace of the exercise.
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Akiefa called for INEC to take the registration closer to the people in a bid to relieve wards of the financial constraints they embody.
He pointed out that Burutu as a federal constituency with a large land mass, was undone by the allotment of a single registration centre.
“How can Burutu as a federal constituency, with a large land mass and over 70 communities be allotted just a single registration center?
“In times past, wards have always borne the brunt of conveying people to the registration centre but even with that, so many eligible persons will remain unregistered.
“Again, how many wards can carry the financial burden of conveying people across to the local government headquarters for registration?” Akiefa questioned.
On his part, Hon Isaiah Ingo highlighted the risk involved in conveying constituents to the registration centre, particularly from areas such as Ogulagha, Kou and other Ward 11 communities.
“These are peculiar areas where there is so much risk and volatility attached to conveying large number of people by sea. INEC must also prioritise the safety of the people by allotting registration centres to areas with these kind of challenges,” Isaiah said.
Also speaking, Elder Peter Numa likened the situation as almost a deliberate act by the Independent National Electoral Commission, stating that the issue with Burutu is not new to the body.
“The situation with Burutu is not new to INEC. 2023 will not be the first time elections will be conducted in this local government. Hence, I’m wondering why a solution to seamless voters registration appears to be a herculean task for INEC.
“It is simple. There should be a spread of registration centres across the local government,” he added.
Meanwhile, our correspondent gathered that there a town hall meeting between stakeholders and the INEC Commissioner for Delta State, May Agbamuche-Mbu has been slated for March 17, 2022, at Burutu.
