INEC officials “collect N200 from voters to power generator” in Niger
Some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission have been accused of demanding N200 before they could register residents of a Niger state community for their Permanent Voter Cards.
The officials, according to some residents, claimed the money was for the purchase of fuel for their power generating sets.
A resident of Wushishi Community in the Wushishi Local Government Area of the state, Isah Ibrahim, complained that the some of the INEC officers were not friendly and could not explain to the people why they should pay before being captured.
Ibrahim said, “The INEC officials could not explain properly why they are collecting N200 and for that reason alone, most of us boycotted the registration exercise.”
Another resident, Gambo, said many people left in anger over the officials’ demands.
He said the residents angered by the INEC officials’ actions said “the 2019 elections should go to hell. Of what benefit is it to the community when we don’t have good roads, potable water and power supply? So, why are we stressing ourselves?”
Prof. Samuel Egwu, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, said he was not aware of such actions and promised to bring offenders to book.
