Chuks Okocha
21 January 2003
Abuja And Donald Andoor in Port Harcourt — Following the discovery by the police last week of five million forged voters' cards being printed in a business centre located in a Lagos suburb, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has compiled a list of about two million Nigerians who were involved in various registration malpractices in the last September voters' registration exercise for prosecution by the police
Giving the hint about the INEC move to prosecute the perpetrators of fraud in voters' registration exercise in Port Harcourt yesterday while flaging-off of the make-up registration exercise which kicks off nationwide today, the Rivers State Resident Electoral Com-missioner, Mallam Muhammed Abubakar said "the names of those involved in the malpractices have already been handed over to the police for necessary action."
He warned those engaged in unscrupulous registration activities especially multiple registration to stay away as INEC would get at them through the form which every intending voter is expected to complete.
Announcing that the state INEC has received enough materials and has made adequate arrangements for the successful conduct of the exercise, he appealed to all Nigerians to expose anybody that would try to sabotage the smooth conduct of the exercise.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly has called on the Nigerian Police to commence investigation into the circumstances surrounding the discovery of printing of fake voters card by some people in Lagos.
Reacting to the development, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon. Abdulkareem Salisu, told newsmen in Abuja that the National Assembly would want the case investigated.
"We have already written to INEC for a full explanation because issues like this could bring crisis of confidence in the system," he said.
Salisu noted that the legislators are "particularly worried about the printing of fake voters' cards, especially now that elections are round the corner."
He said the National Assembly is interested in knowing what "INEC is doing to forestall a future occurrence," adding that the lawmakers want assurances that "the suspects would be brought to book."
In this regard, he added the lawmakers " wrote to the Police last Friday on the issue, but was still expecting the response of the Inspector General."
Salisu called on the public to cooperate with the police in its investigation into the printing of fake voters' cards in Lagos, pointing out that this is the first time such a crime is being committed.
Describing the discovery as "unfortunate," Salisu said the earlier the matter is properly investigated the better it would be for democracy in the country.
He offered explanations on why the House is summoning the chairman of INEC, Dr. Alex Guobadia, to appear before its Committees on Electoral Matters, Special Duties and Justice and Human Rights.
"We are not asking INEC to stop the make-up voters registration exercise," he said, but for a "full explanation why the make-up exercise should come before the display of voters' register."
He told THISDAY later that a letter summoning the INEC Chairman to appear before the relevant committees has been sent to Guobadia, adding that he may "appear either on Tuesday (today) or Wednesday."
Also, INEC National Commissioner in Charge of Information, Mr. Okpo Sam Okpo, said the make-up registration exercise is for only those who could not register in the last exercise in September last year.
He said that the successful conduct of the exercise would help INEC in the planned display of the voters' register next month. He warned those who have registered before not to attempt to register again as the computer will detect it as double registration.
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