INEC accredited observers raises alarm over extortion at CVR centers

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials in Kogi state have been accused of extortion from frustrated registrants in the ongoing continuous voters registration exercise.

The INEC accredited observers group in a press conference yesterday in Lokoja said the group had observed that INEC’s official and security personnel deployed to the single registration centers in each of the local government headquarters of the state were demanding for money from would-be registrants who have become frustrated as a result of long waiting on queue.

The group called for disciplinary action of the officials involved, saying: “Extortion of money and other valuables from frustrated registrants by INEC registration officers and security personnel as wete the cases in Yagba East, Idah, Lokoja Local government areas should be immediately stopped and such officers disciplined accordingly.”

The team leader, Romanus Azubike who spoke on behalf of the group also described the allegation of double registration against the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello as fallacious, malicious born out of envy, malign and share jealousy from his detractors who still nurse anger against his emergence as the executive Governor of the state and his continuous legal victories.

He advised that INEC should remain upright, transparent and fair on their dealings in preparation for the 2019 general election, most importantly as the rumours are already making the rounds across the state that INEC was already compromised with bias with an intention to under register the state.