Thuggery mars continued voter registration in Kano -INEC

From Edwin Olofu, Kano

The on-going continued voter registration in Kano state has been marred by thuggery, as hoodlums allegedly hijacked registration materials and in some units, beating up the independent Electoral Commission (INEC) ad-hoc staff, Kano state Resident Electoral Commissioner Abdullahi Umar Danyaya has alleged.

Danyaya, who made the revelation Sunday in his office while speaking to newsmen decried the attitude of the hoodlums that are molesting and manhandling the electoral body staff, calling on security agents to arrest and prosecute anybody engaged in the act.

He cited areas in the metropolis where such violent cases were recorded to include Fagge, Gwale and Mandawari among others, disclosing that in some areas the INEC staff were subjected to corporal punishments.

“The Commission is appealing to the general public to desist from molesting and manhandling of our staff and equipment. Security agents all over the state are being requested to arrest anybody engaged in mal-treating our staff as this will affect the tempo to work hard for the state.”

The Resident Electoral Commissioner assured that the Commission is poised to resist any attempt to induce its staff to do anything contrary to the rules.

Danyaya hinted some ad-hoc staff were handed to the Police for allegedly engaging in private registration in Kabo local government in odd hours, promising to deal decisively with any state found wanting.

He added that the Commission is determined to ensure a successful and transparent exercise, noting that it has added two days and the exercise will now end on Wednesday, instead of today.