Birnin Kebbi – INEC says it has charged five persons to a Magistrate’s Court in Jega, Kebbi State for allegedly violating the Electoral Act during the nationwide voter registration.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Alhaji Kabir Ahmed, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that two of the accused persons engaged in double registration in Gwandu and Birnin kebbi Local Government Areas.

He said the commission registered a total of 1,638,325 voters during the exercise.

Ahmed said the exercise was successful, stressing that some of the challenges it encountered were addressed while registration officers were orderly.

The REC said apart from the initial protests by NYSC Assistant Registration Officers who objected to their non engagement for the exercise, no negative incident was recorded.

He said the extension of the registration in 28 centres in Birnin Kebbi, Suru, Yauri and Bagudo was conducted smoothly.

Ahmed said the cordial relationship among security agencies and some Non-Governmental Organisations that conducted the election contributed to its success in the state.

In Gombe State, no fewer than 1.26 million voters were registered during the exercise, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Godfery Miri, said.

He also told NAN in Gombe that in spite of the limited resources for logistic support, security men in the state did very well during the exercise.

Miri, however, expressed dismay over the “bad behaviours of some of the corps members”, adding that in spite of the shortcomings of INEC, the exercise was successful.

“They wanted to choose the types of vehicles they will use; if you bring a pick-up vehicle for them, they will say they will not enter.

“But some of them were really dedicated and reported cases of under age people trying to register,” he said.

Miri said a stakeholders’ meeting held in the state helped to mobilise people to come out en mass to register.

The REC said INEC noted the challenges faced and had forwarded same to the national headquarters, to guide the general elections.

“I believe INEC will definitely not fail Nigerians in the forthcoming general elections and will conduct free, fair and credible elections,” he said (NAN)