Barely two weeks to the conduct of the March 28 presidential election, Nigeria’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that it was yet to distribute the Permanent Voter Cards in four local government areas of Edo State.
INEC in its explanation said that the PVCs were meant for eligible voters, who registered during the Continuous Voters Registration last year.
He said the cards in the affected areas of Owan East, Owan West, Ovia South-West and Uhunmwonde, were yet to be distributed because the commission was yet to take delivery of them.
The state Administrative Secretary, Mr. Brown Ulucha, made the disclosure while addressing some protesters at the state headquarters of the commission in Benin.
The protesters, who were led by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives candidate for Egor Ikpoba Okha Federal Constituency, Mr. Johnson Agbonayinma, expressed displeasure over what they termed as a bias posture of the commission in the state.
They also accused INEC staff, including the Electoral Officers in Egor and Ikpoba Okha councils, of bias, alleging that the PVCs, which were reportedly stolen last month, might not have been missing.
Reacting, however, Ulucha, assured that the allegations raised would be investigated, adding that the commission would provide equal opportunities for all parties in the elections.
He said, ”If you say PVCs that were stolen, were not stolen. Then help us prove it and we will appreciate it.
“We know that the aspiration of all Nigerians is to let their votes count and, in Edo state, your votes must count.”
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