Northern Regional executives of the National Democratic Congress have called on the chairperson of the electoral commission to extend the deadline for registration of new voters in the region, considering the effects of the rains in the region.
In a press statement copied to Adom News, the Regional Secretary of the party, Salisu Awuribe said it has become necessary for the electoral commission to extend its deadline for the registration of new voters who to enable them to take part in the impending referendum to create new regions.
According to the secretary, the seven days used for the exercise by the EC are inadequate.
Mr Salisu added that considering the fact that most parts of the region have been cut off due to recent downpours and flooding, it will be inhumane to compel young and fresh voters to cross rivers or walk across broken bridges and joint long cues to have their names registered.
He has also accused the EC of poor planning for the entire exercise.
According to him, the registration is already showing signs of failure and if not checked and corrected, the EC will not be able to meet its 2% target for the December 25, 2018 referendum date.
“The decision to limit the registration exercise to only district offices of the electoral commission is not only discriminatory but unfair, unjust and insensitive to the young registrants
“Why must a young boy or girl who just turn 18 years struggle to cross Rivers and streams for well over 100 to 200km just to be registered to vote, spending over 2 days on such a journey,” he asked.
