BY Samuel Oyadongha

Yenagoa—Bayelsa State governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson has described the ongoing nationwide voters’ registration and card collection exercise as part of measures by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to strengthen the country’s electoral system.

He also observed that the success of the exercise will promote democratic practice in the country, as it was intended to widen the level of participation of the citizenry in future elections.

According to a statement, the governor, shortly after he and his wife, Rachel, collected their permanent voters’ cards, PVCs at the Oruere 005 polling unit in his hometown, Toru-Orua,  Sagbama Local Government Area of the state, expressed satisfaction with the turnout of Bayelsans for the exercise.

He urged the people especially those, who recently attained the statutory voting age of 18 years to take the exercise more seriously.

He said it was for this reason that the state government declared Wednesday a work-free day to enable workers and others participate in the exercise to ensure its success in the state.

Commenting on the challenges of the exercise, as indicated by preliminary reports at his disposal, the governor urged those, who turned up, but were yet to get their permanent voters’ cards not to despair, assuring that relevant government agencies would take appropriate measures to address the shortcomings.

He said: “The exercise gives opportunity to everyone to participate in the electoral process. As you are aware, I announced a work-free day Wednesday to enable workers and members of their families, who have voting right to be part of the process and to ensure that this exercise concludes successfully.”