Nigerians displaced by Boko Haram to ‘vote’ in 2015 — INEC

The Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, said on Wednesday that it planned to make provisions for Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, to cast their votes in the 2015 general polls.

Tukur Sa’ad, the Borno Resident Electoral Commissioner, said this during a visit to the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Garbai in Maiduguri.

Mr. Sa’ad, however, said that the commission was yet to work out modalities for the IDPs to vote.

He said that the INEC had slated Nov. 28 for the commencement of distribution of Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, in Borno.

Mr. Sa’ad explained that the exercise would hold in 12 out of the 27 local government areas of the state due to the current security challenges.

“The issuance of PVCs to registered voters will take place in only 12 LGAs considered to be relatively safe in Borno.

“The exercise will last for six days,” he said.

Mr. Sa’ad said that the number of registered voters in the 12 LGAs represented about 52 percent of total number of voters registered in the state in 2010.

“The PVCs will be issued based on the temporary voters’ cards issued at the nationwide voters registration in 2010.

“PVC is like an ATM card that will not allow an individual to vote more than once in an election,” he said.

Mr. Sa’ad said INEC would conduct Continuous Voter Registration at ward levels for individuals who had attained voting age after the distribution.

He solicited for the support of the royal father for the success of the exercise.

In his remarks, Shehu Garbai thanked the commissioner for the visit.

He expressed joy that INEC was making effort to hold election in the state in spite of the current security challenges.

Garbai advised INEC to make use of qualified staff for the conduct of the 2015 General Polls for credibility.

(NAN)