The Delta state resident electoral commissioner, Revd Monday Tom Udoh, has expressed displeasure over the low turn out of Deltans to check their names in the display of voters register at the respective wards.
The display of voters register at ward levels began on November 12 and ended on Friday, November 18 and thereafter the register will be moved to the local government headquarters for continuation.
The display is to avail registered voters opportunity to express complaints and raise objections in relation to correct spelling of names, absence of names, presence of names of dead people, underage voters and other observed anomalies.
However, the resident electoral commissioner who has been calling on Deltans to collect their PVCs and check their names in the displayed voters register is unhappy over the low turn out of Deltans for the exercise.
In an interview with journalists after visiting some wards in the state, the REC who was accompanied by senior members of the state office, expressed dissatisfaction with the response of Deltans to the exercise.
He told journalists: “We have gone round to see for ourselves. We have observed that INEC officials are on ground to attend to Nigerians. But it is unfortunate that the people are not really coming out to make use of this opportunity.
“Just few persons in all the centres. Most of them will wait till it is a day to closure of PVC collection when they will almost bring down the gate. From what I’ve seen so far, I am not encouraged by the turn out.
“We have elected officers in every local government area and their duty is to call a stakeholders meeting before this kind of exercise and they have done that. It is expected that the stakeholders would take the message back to their immediate community.
“We expect elites to talk to their people as well as traditional rulers and political parties who are beneficiaries to go and collect their PVCs. It is not about going to campaign with two million people while only 500 have PVCs. This is not the best.”
He implored political institutions and every Nigerian to collaborate with INEC for the success of the electoral process. He noted: “What we want is to see people in their numbers claiming or making objections but no one is making objections.”
Emerald News reports that most of the centres visited had some of the registers displayed on walls while others had the booklets opened for registered voters to check for their names. However, reports from INEC staff on ground indicate very abysmal turn out of registered voters.
In all the centers visited, the REC pleaded with the people of Delta state to come out, check their names and collect their PVCs. The display of voters register at the ward levels which is believed to be closer to the people is expected to close on Friday, November 18. Thereafter, the register will be moved to the local government headquarters.
