By PETER OKUTU
ABAKALIKI—Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, has dismissed insinuations by some persons that the Direct Data Capture, DDC, machines used by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in the on going voter registration did not capture the finger prints of people with some ailments, including diabetes, hypertension and HIV/AIDS.

Prof. Chukwua, who made the clarification yesterday while registering at Amaizu polling unit at Afikpo, Afikpo North local government area of Ebonyi State, explained that the initial difficulties experienced in capturing some peoples’ fingerprints were due to the sensitivity of the machines.

Professor Chukwu urged Nigerians, irrespective of their health status, not to be discouraged but go back and register, noting that the problem had since been rectified by INEC.

He said: “It is not true that the machines rejected the thumb print of those with diabetes and other ailments. I think it depended on the sensitivity of the machines and I think after the necessary adjustment by the experts, we no longer receive that kind of complaints from people. So, it is not true; it has to do with the software but that has been taken care of.”

The Health Minister warned against the use of mutilated spirit and other substances to wash the hand before registration, saying that such procedure could have adverse effect of scrapping off the skin and destroying ones finger print.

On whether INEC should extend the period of registration to cover the lost days at the beginning of the exercise, the Health Minister pleaded for people to allow INEC do her job and to be the one to determine necessary adjustment if need be.

“Well extension is speculative, like the INEC chairman said, let’s move on and see what happens. The thing is moving, you see it didn’t take me more than five minutes to get registered, I think they are going to register everyone at this rate”.

“Agreed this kind of hitches can discourage people but now it is working and I know Nigerians will come out and they have been turning out … every Nigerian who is 18 years and above must ensure that they are registered because this is the power you have, the power to choose our leaders,” he said.