The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nigeria, Professor Maurice Iwu, announced here Thursday that the commission would release the comprehensive time-table for the conduct of the 2011 general elections on Tuesday.
Briefing the Senate leadership on the commission’s preparation for the 2011 el ections, Iwu said that the voters’ registration would hold from June to July th is year, adding that the Commission had set up automatic strategic centres in three States — Jigawa (North), Ogun (South West) and Abia (South East) — to serve as data base for the registration of voters across the country.
Iwu stated that the commission had also engaged in a high-level research and met hodology aimed at minimizing incessant cases of ballot snatching, election violence and rigging among other electoral malpractices.
He attributed the success of the polls in the South East Anambra State to the ou tcome of the research embarked upon by INEC and promised that the commission would continue to improve on that performance.
Assuring Nigerians of successful general elections in 2011, Iwu said that the co mmission would also engage the services of National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) members as back-up staff for the polls instead of hiring ad-hoc staff.
Responding, the President of the Senate, David Mark, assured the INEC top offici als that the National Assembly would facilitate the Electoral Reform programme in order to benefit the forthcoming general elections.
He explained that the electoral reform had become imperative in view of the grey areas noticed in the conduct of elections in the country in the past.
He was of the view that the voters’ registration should be a continuous exerci se instead of the periodic arrangement.
Mark said: ‘I am impressed that the voters’ registration will soon commence, but I am of the opinion that the exercise should be a continuous process. Anybo d y who has come of age could easily walk into any INEC office and register; this w ill ease the process and make it more accessible to all Nigerians.”