Reclaimed Michika residents storm INEC office in Adamawa; they want to vote

There was a mild drama in Adamawa State capital yesterday, as the people of Michika Local Government, which was recently reclaimed from Boko Haram insurgents, stormed the headquarters of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, demanding to cast their votes in the March 28 and April 11 elections at home.
The protesters, in their hundreds, barricaded the main entrance to INEC office as fierce-looking military and other security agents kept vigil to prevent possible outbreak of law and order.
They carried placards with such inscriptions as “We want to vote at home,” “80% percent of the population of Michika are now back home and why should INEC compel us to vote in Yola,” “INEC, do not disenfranchise us; allow us to perform our civic responsibilities with our kiths and kins,” among others.
A delegation of the protesters was later ushered into the INEC headquarters, where they held discussions with the officials of the electoral body.
INEC officials, however, kept sealed lips over their discussions with the protesters.
Some of the protesters, who spoke to Vanguard, stated that all they wanted was for INEC to allow them to cast their votes in Michika and not Yola, the state capital.
They said security situation there was good for them to exercise their civic rights at home.
The leader of the protesters, Mr. James Manager, said the people were not contemplating boycotting the election, but wanted to vote at home.
According to Mr. James Manager, if the elections will be conducted in other reclaimed areas of the state, “there is no justification, that election should not also be conducted in Michika.”