Voters who change addresses’ll vote – INEC

Posted by admin INEC Politics, Latest Politics Monday, June 11th, 2012

INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega
| credits: File copy

Registered voters who change their residential addresses before 2015 have been assured they will vote.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, Section 13 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) has made provisions to enable such voters to exercise their franchise in their new location.

INEC Director of Information, Mr. Emmanuel Umenger, told our correspondent, in Abuja, on Sunday, that the Electoral Act empowered the commission to respect the wish of voters who for one reason or another desired to vote in places other than their original location of registration.

However, he said such was not automatic.

Umenger said, “The provisions of the law are quite clear. The commission will transfer the registration details of an eligible voter who fulfils the conditions stipulated in section 13 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).”

A number of Nigerians, who registered in states like Kano, Borno, Bauchi and Yobe States, had expressed fears that they might be denied their rights to vote on account of their forced relocation to other parts of the country.

Mr. Abraham Ishaku, who resided in Kano until late last month, is one of such individuals.

He told our correspondent, “I am afraid I may not be allowed to vote because the law says you must vote where you registered.

“I registered in Kano and now I have relocated to Makurdi, I can’t register again because I may be charged for double registration.

“As a Nigerian, I know how important voting during elections is and I don’t want to be left out in 2015.”

-Punchwp_posts