Dakingari Declares 2-day Public Holiday For Workers To Obtain Voter Cards

Gov. Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi on Wednesday declared May 22 and May 23 as public holidays to enable workers in the state obtain their permanent voter cards.
Dakingari made the announcement in Birnin Kebbi during a meeting between INEC officials and stakeholders on the distribution of voter cards and continuous voters’ registration.
He directed the state Ministry of Finance to pay workers’ salaries on Wednesday to enable them receive their cards and register as voters.
He said collection of the permanent voter cards was significant as “it is the only avenue at our disposal to decide who will be the future leaders at all levels’’.
The governor blamed INEC for the duplication of voters’ list during the last registration of voters due to faulty computers and untrained personnel.
Dakingari appealed to traditional and religious institutions to ensure that eligible
voters are registered during the exercise.
Hajia Amina Zakari, INEC Zonal Commissioner in charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara, said 1.74 million voters were registered during the 2011 general elections in Kebbi.
Zakari, who was represented by Mr Paul Omokri, said at the data consolidation and business rule the figure dropped to 1. 59 million.
According to her there are now 1.30million, registered voters in the state.
She urged voters to collect their permanent voter cards at designated centres across the state.
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Minkaila Abdullahi, said 3,000 workers would be engaged for the distribution of the cards and registration of fresh voters.
He said the commission would engage youth corps members during the exercise.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Benjamin Onwuka, called on political party leaders in the state to advise their followers to be orderly during the exercises.
He said the police was committed to ensure security of life and property during the exercises and beyond. (NAN)