By Ben Agande

ABUJA—NATIONAL Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,  Professor Attahiru Jega, yesterday, said the immediate priority of the commission was to register Nigerians within the country to vote in the 2011 elections.

He said it was impossible for Nigerians in the diaspora to be registered for next year’s election.

Jega who was receiving a delegation of Nigerians in the Diaspora Organisation, NIDO, in his office, said the task of registering Nigerians at home was even herculean, stressing that the commission would not be able to register those in the diaspora for now.

He said the commission would take steps to ensure that Nigerians in the diaspora voted during national elections in the future, adding: “INEC shall take necessary steps to ensure that you participate in future elections. It is difficult to say that by 2011 you will vote; for now, we cannot do that. At the moment it is difficult.”