Lagos protesters blocks INEC office, demands for their PVCs

Some residents of Lagos State on Thursday marched to the state's
headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission at Yaba
to demand the release of their Permanent Voter Cards.
The protesters, who carried placards with inscriptions such as, "INEC
deliberately hold our PVCs," "Non-indigenes of Lagos State refuse to
be disenfranchised," "We want to vote, give us our PVCs," had first
converged on the Yaba Market before marching to INEC's office.
They were received by officials of the commission, led by the Resident
Electoral Commissioner, Akin Orebiyi.
Policemen from some police divisions in the state were also on hand to
forestall a breakdown of law and order, as they formed a human shield
around the INEC officials.
The protesters, in their address, alleged that INEC was being partial
in the distribution of the PVCs, adding that some officials of the
electoral body had been compromised.
The Chairman of Union of Non-indigenes in Lagos State, Francis Abang,
said report from members of the group indicated that 70 per cent of
them had yet to collect their PVCs.
He said, "At the last meeting we had, our members told me that more
than 70 per cent of our people have not collected their PVCs. And
without this card, we cannot vote. That is why we decided to come here
and air our grievances. We want to vote."
The National Publicity Secretary of the North Central indigenes in
Lagos State, Obalaiye Boyede, said out of 15 polling units in his area
in the Iyana Ipaja area of the state, only two had received PVCs.
Boyede said, "A general secretary with us went to Ikeja with his wife
to collect his PVC, but they were turned back. I believe there is
connivance between some political parties and some INEC officials.
These parties are given PVCs in bulk to take home and when anybody
raises questions, the situation turns rowdy just to cover up the act.
"In Abule Oki, Iyana Ipaja, where I came from, many of our people are
being disenfranchised. Out of 15 polling units, it is only in two that
PVCs have been distributed."
Christopher Chimeze, a resident of the Ajeromi Ifelodun Local
Government Area claimed he lost his job while chasing his PVC.
The Imo State indigene, who said he had lived all his life in the
state, said he had made at least 12 futile attempts to get the card,
but was frustrated.
Chimeze said his boss asked him to leave his job "after he did not
find me on site on several occasions. But I won't give up, because I
believe my vote is what will make that right candidate to win the
election."
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Onugha Remigus, a 70-year-old protester from the Mushin area of Lagos
State, said, "INEC owes me. They used my shop, table and chairs for
the distribution of the PVCs and yet, they didn't give me my card."
Another resident, Uche David, said there was a deliberate plot to
disenfranchise the Igbos in the state.
He said, "If you go to Ajeromi, you will discover that those from the
South-South are being deliberately sidelined. In Ajegunle, they are
burning the PVCs of non-indigenes and this is bad. We need our PVCs to
vote."
The REC, Orebiyi, promised to look into the complaints, adding that he
would visit the affected areas.
He said, "We apologise for the trouble you have had to face to collect
your PVCs. Our Chairman, Attahiru Jega, yesterday (Wednesday)
addressed the senate on the challenges we are facing.
"We are still awaiting one million PVCs, which have yet to arrive. As
soon as they arrive, we will give them to you. We will also
investigate the claim that PVCs are being hijacked in some places and
any of our officials found culpable will be sanctioned. But be assured
that on the part of INEC, there is no plan to disenfranchise anyone.
"We have five weeks to elections. For the next three weekends till
March 8, we shall distribute the PVCs."
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