Bayelsa Govt. urges residents to participate in ongoing voters’ registration

The Bayelsa Government has urged eligible residents in  the state to participate in the ongoing Continuous Voters’ Registration (CVR) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

 

Chief Ayibaina Duba,  the INEC Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy,  made the appeal in a statement on Friday in Yenagoa.

 

The nationwide exercise started on June 28 at INEC’s  offices across  the eight local government areas in Bayelsa.

 

Duba, who said a credible Voters’ Register was crucial to credible electoral process, advised residents to take their civic responsibilities seriously by participating in the registration.

 

The commissioner said that the CVR would afford those who had  attained the age of 18 after the last general election to register.

 

He urged others who just relocated to the state, misplaced or damaged their voter cards to have them replaced or transfer their voting units to units of their choices within the state.

 

He also called on traditional rulers, community leaders and the clergy to mobilise eligible citizens under their influences to participate in the continuous voters’ registration.

 

According to him, registering to vote is a civic responsibility every adult citizen must undertake in order to promote sustainable democracy in the state and beyond.

 

Mr Peter Otafu, the INEC Electoral Officer in Yenagoa, said that prospective residents had been turning up for the exercise and receiving instructions on the modalities.

 

“The process is ongoing and we have been receiving prospective people for registration and we tell them to start the process online and print out the slips for data capture.

 

“We shall commence biometric capture of details  from July 19. So we are on ground to give people the requisite information,” Otafu said.