190,000 Benue IDPs will be allowed to vote - INEC assures

- The Independent National Electoral Commission says over 190,000 internally displaced persons in various camps in Benue state will vote in the 2019 general elections

- According to INEC, provisions have been made to ensure that IDPs cast their ballots in the forthcoming elections

- The electoral body says IDPs situated in their states of origin will vote in all the elections, but those taking refuge outside their states of origin will only vote in the presidential election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given assurance that over 190,000 internally displaced persons in various camps in Benue state will be allowed to vote in the forthcoming general elections.

Vanguard reports that the electoral body said provisions had been made to ensure that IDPs are not disenfranchised during the elections.

Legit.ng gathers that the assurance was given in Makurdi on Tuesday, January 15, by INEC resident electoral commissioner for Benue state, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda.

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During an interactive session with religious leaders in the state capital, Yilwatda said: “We are going to have what we call IDPs voting points, which will be based on ward level and not voting units.

“They are going to vote in the local governments they are situated and their results taken back to their local governments of origin or residence. That will allow them to get their votes counted in their places of residence.

“Secondly, those who are displaced and taking refuge in another state will vote in the state they are taking refuge in, but they can only vote in the presidential election.

“It means IDPs situated in their states of origin will vote in all the elections, but those taking refuge outside their states of origin will only vote in the presidential election.”

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reassured Nigerians of timely distribution of electoral materials and commencement of voting as stipulated.

The INEC resident electoral commissioner in Imo, Professor Francis Ezeonu, made this known in Owerri on Monday, January 14, at a forum with traditional rulers in the state.

He said arrangements had been concluded by the commission to ensure that political parties, their representatives or agents were involved in conveying of election sensitive materials from the Central Bank to Registration Area Camps (RACs) in the state.

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Ezeonu noted that the commission had equally identified 105 RACs in the 305 wards in the state for the timely distribution of the sensitive materials which he promised would arrive by 7am.

He said: “INEC has introduced a lot of procedures for the success of the general elections. 105 RACs have been created where materials are expected to arrive by 7 am from the Central Bank. RACs were effectively used in Ekiti, Osun and Kwara states and will be used in Imo."

Ezeonu appealed for the support and cooperation of traditional rulers in sensitising their subjects to come out to collect their PVCs, cast their votes and stay behind to make sure their votes count.

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Source: Legit.ng