Barely 45 days to the conduct of the general elections, an interfaith group has raised the alarm over alleged deliberate denial of access to PVCs based on ethnic and partisan considerations, and has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to speedily address “old politics” that could disenfranchise Nigerians registered for the exercise.
The group, ‘Community Life Project/ReclaimNaija’ in collaboration with religious leaders on Tuesday observed sundry other lapses and urged INEC to endeavour “to get it right at the various stages and processes from pre-election to Election Day”, so as to allay the heightening fear that a large percentage of the over six million voters without PVC could be disenfranchised.
This came 24 hours after the umpire on Monday raised fresh fears that the forthcoming general election faces serious threats of cancellation and postponement if security challenges across parts of the country fails to improve.
Addressing newsmen, Tuesday, in Abuja, at their interfaith Press conference ahead of the country’s pivotal general election, Rev Israel Akanji, President, Nigeria Baptist Convention observed an avalanche of stories of frustration from many Nigerians over the slow process leading to the exercise.
He particularly noted that “there are still stories reflecting the old politics of PVC distribution where in some state and LG 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 processes 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 Gidado Muhammad Yolde, representing a Community-based organisation in Adamawa state and Zainab Abdurasheed, Programme Officer, Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) 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.”
Akanji who was also joined by Rt Rev Ini Ukpuho, Coordinating Chaplain, National Christian Center, and Rev (Mrs) Uzoaku Williams, Assistant General Secretary, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) further expressed concern over the heightened insecurity in the land.
Decrying the development, he lamented that violence and civil strife have continued unabatedly and seem to have spiked in the lead-up to the 2023 general elections.
“The spread of these acts of violence to other parts of the country has added to the tension as regards the elections,” adding “the implications of these unfortunate acts of violence are grave for our country.”
He also called on religious as well as opinion leaders to use their amplified voices to push for issues that are important and relevant to the overall well-being of the country.
According to him, “this period affords them the opportunity to inform the people of the importance of responsibly exercising their civic duties. They must lend their voices to the cause of getting citizens to collect their PVC and vote peacefully and participate in all aspects of our civic life with a true patriotic spirit.
“We expect that they would use their enormous influence over their followers to encourage participation in the electoral process while admonishing them to shun all forms of violence.
“We must remind ourselves that we have a moral obligation to protect poor and vulnerable citizens, especially people at the grassroots and in our rural communities. We should not look the other way as the poverty and ignorance of our vulnerable population are being exploited by unscrupulous forces who are buying their PVC and votes.
“The onus is on us to rigorously educate our faith communities on the adverse consequences of selling their PVCs and their votes. We should have the courage to call on all politicians and those vying for public office to act ethically and play to the rules.”
Continuing, the clergyman said” We also expect that hateful and divisive rhetoric which sometimes find its way to the pulpit will be a thing of the past. Our land needs healing and cleansing. Hateful speeches and fiery rhetorics are poisons that destabilise the nation. Much more is expected of the people of faith.”
Also in his remarks, Ach Bishop John Praise urged Nigerians to ensure that only persons with impeccable character emerge victorious to lead the citizens and move the country forward in the next political dispensation.
He appealed to INEC to ensure that their logistics are in order, so that the electorate will not be frustrated during the exercise.
