Kaduna – The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Wednesday said the commission would commence its continuous voter registration in May ahead of the 2015 election.
Jega said this at the opening ceremony of INEC/State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) Experience Sharing Conference, organised by United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) in Kaduna.
He said that more polling units would be created in the next year general election to decongest large polling units.
“The continuous registration exercise is to ensure those that have turned 18 years between 2011 and now are registered before the 2015 general elections.
“Also those that were 18 and above but were unable to register for one reason or the other would be given opportunity to register.’’
The Chairman stressed the need for closer synergy between INEC and SIECs, adding that the conference was timely toward ensuring free, fair, peaceful and credible elections in the future.
He, therefore called on the state governments to ensure absolute independence of SIECs and credible elections at the grassroots.
According to him, there cannot be credible polls at national level when the foundation is faulty.
Jega further expressed optimism that the 2015 general elections would be the most credible in the history of Nigeria considering the INEC’s level of preparedness.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that participants at the conference, included INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioners from the 36 states and Abuja.
The others were Commissioners from INEC Headquarters and top management staff and SIECs Chairmen. (NAN)
