Displaced People Plead for Voting Rights

A group of displaced people in Gwer-West local government area of Benue state are pleading with INEC to allow them to vote - despite losing their voters’ cards.

The loss occurred during a communal violence in the area in February that also claimed a number of lives.

Backed by their local Chief, Daniel Abomtse, the group said that they should be allowed to vote, since their names and photographs remain in the voters’ register.

Their representatives, Barrister Pius Gugu and Honorable Stetphen Ugbe said the displaced people were turned back when they attempted to vote during last Saturday’s botched elections.

Gugu and Ugbe said that if INEC did not have a change of mind the people will be denied participation in the 2011 elections through no fault of their own.

But the local INEC official, Alhaj Ahmed Zana, said the displaced people were prevented from voting based on INEC’s clear instruction that says “No voters card, No accreditation”.