The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says anyone who indulges in double registration or any form of electoral malpractice in the planned nationwide continuous registration exercise will be prosecuted.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Akwa Ibom, Dr Gabriel Ada gave the warning at a meeting with political parties and other stakeholders held in Uyo on Friday.
Ada said the commission would not “take it kindly” with anyone caught in double registration.
He noted that during the last voter’s registration thousands of people were identified to have indulged in double registrations, but escaped being prosecuted.
Ada said that anyone caught cheating this time would be made to face the full weight of the law no matter his status.
“It is my wish to assure Nigerians that INEC is full ready to issue permanent voter’s card to all registered voters in the country before the end of the year.
“I’ll like to reiterate our resolve to enforce compliance to the Electoral Act that no person will be allowed to vote without a permanent voter’s card.
“It is the desire of INEC to improve on the successes recorded in the 2011 general elections which was adjudged free, fair and credible,” he said.
He said the essence of the meeting was to brief all political parties in the state on the new guidelines and code of conduct.
The meeting, the REC said, was also to update the parties’ knowledge on the unfolding electoral activities of the commission.
Ada said the continuous voter registration was to give Nigerians, who have turned 18 years, and those who did not register in the last exercise the opportunity to do so.
The registration, he said, would also allow those with incomplete records like missing or insufficient fingerprints and missing pictures to do the corrections.
He urged political parties to mobilise their members at the grassroots to participate in the exercise.
The resident electoral commissioner disclosed that INEC has purchased 80, 000 Card Readers to indicate when the accreditation started; the total number of persons accredited and vote collated at each polling units.
Ada told the stakeholders that all political parties would be given equal opportunity and there would be regular interaction to discuss the way forward to ensure free and fair election in 2015.