THREE days to the conclusion of the continuous voters’ registration exercise,  eligible voters have complained about the high-handedness of INEC officials at the registration centres in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Speaking to The ICIR on the state of the ongoing voters registration at the Junior Secondary School, Wuse Zone 3 registration centre on Tuesday, some voters  have expressed concern  over the exercise, saying qualified voters would be disenfranchised in the 2019 general election if proactive measures are not deployed by INEC to address the challenges facing applicants for PVC.

Most people at the registration centre decried the late arrival of INEC officials, insufficient direct data capturing (DDC) which contributed to slowing down the pace of the registration exercise.

At the centre, there were four computer systems working—only two were used to register new PVC applicants, while the other two computers were used for people seeking transfer of PVCs, retrieval of lost PVCs, among others.

“This is my fourth time, yet I’m still unable to register by 12 noon today. I came all the way from Jikwoyi, I have been here since 7 am.

“And after staying in the sun for hours, they told us the forms for registration have finished,” the frustrated Nsikan Samuel said.

Another aggrieved voter also lamented about how he missed a business opportunity because of the registration.

“Imagine! I left my job so that I can be here today and by 12, under this scorching sun, they are here telling us there is no form again,” Bala Abdullahi said.

Several applicants told The ICIR that they had to be at the registration centre as early as 6 am to get registered.

A young lady also said he has been coming to the registration centre for days without success.

“I have been here since 4 am and I picked number 52, this 11:49 am, I have not done my registration.”

A senior civil servant who prefers not to be identified said that inadequate deployment of machines, insufficient registration centres and the attitude of INEC staff were the major factors impeding the exercise.

He said more registration centres, machines and manpower should have been deployed to cater for the huge turnout of voters.