Physically challenged persons can now vote in Nigeria

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that physically challenged persons would be allowed to register and cast their votes for the 2019 general elections.

INEC Administrative Secretary for Cross River State, Mr. Peter Opara, disclosed this yesterday while responding to questions from physically challenged persons during a stakeholders’ meeting in Calabar.

INEC also yesterday cautioned voters in Kano against manipulation and multiple registration as Continuous Voters Registration begins nationwide.

Administrative Secretary of the commission, Alhaji Bala Ibrahim Shittu, who gave the warning during a stakeholders’ meeting at INEC state headquarters said contravention of this law attracts N.1 million penalty.

The INEC boss added that anyone involved in multiple registration would be sanctioned and barred from future elections.In a related development, the electoral commission has fixed May 20 for bye-election in Mashi-Dutsi federal constituency in Katsina State.

The election followed the death of Sani Bello, who was the National Assembly member representing the area.

The new date was revealed yesterday by the state INEC Administrative Secretary, Inusa Jika Kura, while speaking with representatives of political parties.

Also, INEC in Borno has converted 11 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps into Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) centres for eligible voters that reached 18 years and whose cards were destroyed during Boko Haram insurgency in the state.

Announcing this yesterday in Maiduguri, the Administrative Secretary of INEC in Borno, Malam Abdulhamid Buba said because of security challenges, 11 local councils that are inaccessible would have their registration centres in IDPs camps in Maiduguri metropolis.

He added that 16 councils that are relatively peacefully are to register at their INEC designated offices.