Residents of Ogun State communities in Ofada, Owode, Mowe and Ibafo have accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of attempting to disenfranchise them from voting during the April elections.
They alleged that INEC was doing this by making sure that the residents did not register during the on-going voter‘ registration.
According to them, scarcity of registration centres and absence of Direct Data Capture Machines in the areas had made it difficult for them to get registered. They claimed that there were only two registration centres for the communities; one at the Police station in Ibafo and the other near the Ibafo Primary School.
The residents called on INEC to rise up to the challenges in the areas by urgently providing them with more registration centres, personnel, DDC machines and other materials.
Leading a peaceful protest on Sunday to the headquarters of Punch Nigeria Limited at PUNCH PLACE, Kilometre 14, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State, the Secretary, Zone 5 & 6 Ibafo Community Development Association, Mr. Johnson Adekoleoye, said they had made representations to INEC on their plight but noted that nothing had been done. He added that their decision to take their plight to the public domain was to let the commission know the level of their frustrations.
He also appealed to electoral body to extend the registration period because of the difficulties being experienced by many during registration.
The affected communities are Surulere, Halleluyah, Ilupeju, Oke Bankale, Unity 9(Kara), Gloryland Estate, Papa Olorunda, Sowo and Araromi Idera.
Others include Magada Estate, Ifesowapo Sefu, Royal Estate Makogi, Magada Onigbagbo, Mountain of Fire and Miracles Magboro Akeran, Leadway Magboro Akeran and Victory Magboro Akeran.
Also affected are Unique Makogi’ Ireakari Sefu, Unity Magboro Akeran, Alamo Magboro Akeran, Ogo Oluwa Magboro II, Abuke Oko, New Generation, Gaseline Magboro, Igodi Magboro, Ilupeju Magboro and Praise Hill Estate, Arepo.
Adekoleoye said, “Since registration started, we have not been attended to. There are no DDC machines in our area. We are about 36 communities having over 20,000 people. They told us to go to Ibafo. Even at Ibafo, there are two centres which are not enough to serve the people of that area.
“That is why we have come to THE PUNCH to create the awareness. We want INEC to create more registration centres and provide DDC machines and materials. We need extension because even if they give us up to 50 machines, most people would not be able to register within the specified period.”
A member of the group, Mr. Samson Adelakun, said the communities mobilised all residents to participate actively in the exercise but regretted that scarcity of registration centres, personnel and materials had discouraged many of the residents who were initially enthusiastic to register.
He said, “We have made efforts to get our people registered. We mobilised them to come out. They came out; some were there very early in the morning but they could not register. After several attempts, they are getting discouraged.”
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