Hundreds of youth in Ekiti state on Thursday stormed the
various offices of the Independent National National Electoral Commission
(INEC) for registration as the commission flagged off the continuous voter
registration nationwide.
The large turnout might be connected with the governor, Mr.
Ayodele Fayose's promise to reward every youth, between 18 and 21 years, who
register newly with N2,000.
Security operatives at the gate of the commission had a
hectic time controlling the youth, who appeared in a hurry to get the
PVC.
Even the repeated appeals by the Administrative Secretary of
the commission in Ekiti, Dr.Muslim Moleke, that the exercise was continuous
could not calm the youth who almost pulled down the commission's gate.
Some of the youths who spoke with our correspondent at the
INEC office, Ado local government, said they were at the commission to collect
the card and afterwards collect the reward.
The government had on Wednesday declared Thursday and Friday
public holidays to enable civil servants partake in the exercise.
The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, told
journalists that the governor only promised a reward of N2,000 per month to the
youths in such category till June next year when the governorship election
would be conducted in the state.
Speaking at the flag off, the INEC’s Administrative
Secretary in Ekiti, Dr Muslim Moleke, warned against multiple registration or
registration by proxy adding that it was criminal under Sections 12, 24 and 120
of the Electoral Act.
He said there were 2,000 uncollected PVC with the commission
urging those concerned to come for them.
The Organising Secretary of APCin the state, Mr Kolade Amire
, raised observation on the alleged inducement adding, “This financial
inducement is dangerous and it was a desperate attempt to
subvert the process."
But the Chairman of Ado Ekiti Local Government, Hon. Ayodeji
Ogunsakin, said the mobilization being done by the government should
By Doyin Adebusuyi
