From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Gov Bello
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has cleared the air on its action of issuance of transferred temporary voters card to the Kogi state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello last week saying that it will not affect in any way the alleged criminal case of double registration to be prepared against him at the appropriate time.
This was disclosed on Thursday by the Kogi state Resident Electoral commissioner ,James Apam during an interactive session with journalists in Lokoja
He said the the pending issue of double registration against the Governor was still hanging and had not taken away his right of transfer of his registration details.
Recall that the commission had last year accused the Governor of double registration, and said he would have been prosecuted but for his immunity.
However, three INEC staff who were indicted for their involvement on the double registration saga, two were dismissed while one was suspended.
But in what looks like a shift of position on Monday, INEC confirmed that Governor Bello applied for the tranfer of his permanent voters card from Abuja to Okene and his application has been approved while his temporary voters card has been issued to him in Okene.
Apam said that Governor Bello applied for the transfer of his registration details from Abuja to his Okene country home,the application was subjected to legal scrutiny and was found qualified for transfer.
“The fact that he had been alleged to have registered twice does not take away his right of transfer the existing registered voters card. when the time comes,INEC will do the needful.” He added.
Meanwhile, the commission have registered a total of 253,006 since the inception if the continuous voters registration exercise.
The resident electoral commissioner told journalists on Thursday that the figure is made up of 133,446 males while females accounted for the remaining 119,560.
So far,the commission said that it had transferred 9,224 voters cards,replaced 13,474 damaged pVCs, and distributed 62,972 permanent voters cards.
This means “90 percent of permanent voters cards have been distributed”the resident electoral commissioner said.
