Interfaith group, clerics raise alarm over denial of citizens PVCs

AN interfaith group, yesterday, raised the alarm over alleged deliberate denial of citizens their   Permanent Voters Card, PVCs based on ethnic or partisan considerations.

The group said such deliberate action is an indication of manipulations to disenfranchise citizens that  registered to vote in the 2023 general elections.  

Briefing journalists in Abuja, the group, ‘Community Life Project/ReclaimNaija’ in collaboration with religious leaders observed that there are sundry lapses in preparation for the forthcoming general elections and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, “to get it right at the various stages and processes from pre-election to Election Day”.

It also advised INEC to allay the heightening fear that a large percentage of the over six million voters without PVC will be disenfranchised.  

The alarm came barely 24 hours after the electoral umpire raised fresh fears that the forthcoming general elections faced serious threats of cancellation and postponement if insecurity persisted

In a prepared text read at the interfaith conference in Abuja, the President of Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev Israel Akanji observed an avalanche of stories of frustration from many Nigerians over the slow process leading to the exercise.  

Dr. Akanji, who is also the President of All African Baptist Fellowship, noted with worry that “there are still stories reflecting the old politics of PVC distribution where in some state and Local Government offices it is said that people are deliberately denied access to their PVCs based on ethnic or partisan considerations, which indicate manipulations to disenfranchise citizens.”

He said, INEC’s reported clean-bill process notwithstanding, “in some places, citizens have had to make several visits or wait for long hours before collecting their PVC. Many new registrants or those who transferred to new polling units are being told to return in mid-January.”  

Rev Akanji, joined by Rev. Ini Ukpuho, Chairman, Christian Council of Nigeria, North Central Zone, Gidado Muhammad Yolde, representing a Community-based organisation in Adamawa state and Zainab Abdurasheed, Programme Officer, Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative, WRAPA; and Rev (Mrs) Uzoaku Williams, Assistant General Secretary, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, ) urged INEC to improve on the observed lapses and “urgently consider extending the deadline for PVC collection at the ward level beyond the January 15 deadline.”  

Other religious leaders at the briefing spoke in manner.

Culled from Vanguard