Electoral body registers 2.1 million in Plateau

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday announced in Jos, the Plateau State capital in North Central Nigeria that it registered 2,102,148 voters during the 3-week voter registration exercise in the state. At a post voter registration briefing, the state resident electoral commissioner, Habu Zarma, however added that the final figure or voter population is to be "known later." With seven direct data capture machines stolen in Langtang North Local Government Area of the state out of which four were later recovered intact, Mr Zarma said the integrity of the electoral process was nonetheless not compromised. According to the statistics released by the state INEC boss, Jos North Local Government area has the highest voter capacity of 407,698 voters, while the least of the 17 local government areas of the state is Jos East local government with 56,480. The exercise did not end without some tragedy, Mr Zarma said, as the state INEC recorded two deaths, one Ishaya Audu Kanga in a ghastly motor accident, and the other, Mercy Dantong due to asphyxiation from generator smoke in the house she was being accommodated, in Riyom and QuanPan respectively. "The display of the preliminary register of voters shall commence at the registration centres which shall be designated as display centres. The period of display shall be between five (5) and fourteen (14) days". Mr Zarma said. Mr Zarma however stated that where cases of under aged and double registration are detected, defaulters will be delisted from the register and even face prosecution.