Voters’ Registration: INEC Warns Against Use Of Mercenaries

As voters registration exercise begins tomorrow, the Independent National Electoral Commission has appealed to politicians to avoid involving mercenaries during the exercise Enugu State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Josiah Uwazuruonye, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Enugu recently.
According to him, involving mercenaries during the registration will derail the electoral process. “Most politicians will go and recruit mercenaries and forge names for them to come and register even when they are not from that locality,” he said.
Uwazuruonye, however, said that all citizens of Nigeria should strive to ensure that a credible voters’ register was produced, the foundation of any free and fair election.
“Once we do not have a credible voter registration, which will lead to having a credible register, the issue of credible election is in jeopardy,” he said.
The commissioner urged corps members that would be involved in the registration to conduct themselves in a manner that will command respect and confidence.
“Corps members should know that they are leaders of tomorrow and should not allow politicians to deceive them during the exercise.”
“This is a very important national assignment, which requires hard work, discipline and patience. Any person selected for the assignment should be proud of his or herself,” he said.
The resident electoral commissioner advised parents not to allow their children or wards who were not eligible to vote to participate in the exercise.
“Parents should not allow their children who are not eligible to vote to be involved in the exercise just because of money given to them by politicians,” Uwazuruonye said.