Sequel to the trending video on social media recently accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Oshodi and Isolo Areas of Lagos State of ethnic profiling and discrimination against a particular ethnic group in the distribution of the Permanent Voters’ Card, PVC, ahead of the February 25 general election, INEC has denied the allegation advising Nigerians to discountenance such misleading reports.
The Chief Press Secretary of INEC, Rotimi Oyekanmi, reacting to the trending videos described as ‘false,’ reports that the officials allegedly colluding with politicians of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, refused to give PVCs to registered voters belonging to a particular ethnic group.
According to the reports by the Guardian, Oyekanmi said the Commission had initially delivered 940,200 PVCs to Lagos for new registrants. According to him, as of January 26, 2023, 839,720 PVCs (representing 89.3 per cent) had been collected. He said additional PVCs were also delivered to Lagos, recently, and owners have been collecting them.
“Is it really possible that Igbo will not be among these 839,720 persons? I am saying this because the allegation you referred to is not just from our Oshodi office. We hear about it at other local councils,” he said.
He said that many of those complaining about not getting their PVCs actually registered twice. They moved from their former residence/state and would like to vote in Lagos.
“There is nothing wrong with that. However, instead of applying for a transfer of their polling unit (from where they relocated to Lagos), they went ahead and registered a second time, which is against our laws.
“Our policy is not to print PVCs for double registrants, because his/her card would have been printed already and will be among the uncollected PVCs.
“Let me emphasise this: If they had applied for a transfer, which is the right thing to do, our system would have treated their application on its merit. But by registering twice, which is an infraction, our system will not allow their attempt to get a second PVC.
“So, this is not about withholding PVCs belonging to a particular ethnic group. To me, it is an impractical thing to do. We have Igbo among our Lagos office staff (in senior positions) and you cannot discriminate against any ethic group if you want to succeed as an organisation,.” he said.