The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Thursday, said that 681,131 members of the electorate in Kogi collected their permanent voter cards from May 23 to May 25.
The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Olusegun Agbaje, made this known to newsmen in Lokoja.
He said that the figure represented 57 per cent of the total 1.2 million voter cards issued for distribution during the period.
Agbaje also said that additional 103, 143 eligible voters were registered across the 21 local government areas in the state during the continuous voter registration exercise conducted from May 28 and June 3.
According to him, the newly registered voters comprised 51, 778 females and 51, 365 males.
Agbaje, however, said the card distribution and voter registration were confronted with some challenges.
He listed the challenges to include snatching of permanent voter cards by hoodlums at Lokoja, Ankpa, Okene, Kogi, Olamaboro, Okehi and Yagba East local government areas.
He added that there were cases of double registration and illegal registration involving a local government secretary and two corps members.
‘’ Some of those arrested in connection with the above mentioned incidents have been charged to court while others are still assisting the police with useful information,’’ he said.
He expressed satisfaction at the two exercises, and thanked the state governor, Captain Idris Wada, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, party leaders, security agents and the media, for their cooperation.
