26th November, 2014
By Adamu Ayuba
Since INEC began the distribution of PVC in its third phase comprising states like Lagos, Ogun, Edo, Imo and some other nine states on the 7th-9th November, 2014, it has been tales of woe for Nigerians domiciled in these states because of the hardship they have had to go through to get their PVC while the exercise lasted in the polling units notwithstanding the fact that it was extended for about two to three more days in some 6 or 7 states.
The truth of the matter is that once again, INEC lived up to its billing as a disappointment just because of its sloppiness in the handling of the exercise. Right now, complaints are coming from left, right, centre, front and behind about electorate not being able to get their cards at polling units. One only hopes that INEC is taking note and ready to change for the interest of our people and democracy since our vote is our power to make a choice of who governs us and allocate our resources equitably and justifiably.
The registration of new voters who were not captured in the exercise faced the same hiccup. It’s been complaints galore from Iyana Iyesi, Ogijo, Mowe, Ifo Alaja, Ijebu Ode, etc. in Ogun State and Ijede, Ikorodu, Agege, Mushin and environs in Lagos State. According to complaints received, the registration points were just too few to cope with the turnout of voters who were determined to put their names in the register.
There is also the complaints of lateness of arrival to the polling units by INEC staffs as well as the non provision of security at the venues and this is a big source of concern. In some of the few polling units, the situation was like a war zone as people scrambled to get registered and it resulted in scuffles in some areas.
So, we are using this medium to admonish our people to be patient, if you are unable to register at your polling unit, please access INEC office in your local government after the exercise because its a continuous process till January 2015. But please go there now and don’t wait till January 2015. For those who have registered or whose names were posted on the board at their polling units and are yet to get their PVC, please visit the INEC office in your local government to collect it, the process is also a continuous one till January 2015.
We want to as well admonish INEC to wake up to its responsibility as the people will not entertain failure and excuses. They must get it right and ensure that people get their PVC as well as ensure the registration of new voters in a stress-free environment. This is all we require of them.
•Ayuba wrote from Lagos.